What does Proverbs 13:5 mean?

According to this verse, godly people have a natural distaste for lies and deception. In contrast, immoral people often deal in dishonesty, which brings consequences. This reinforces other statements about the danger of lies (Proverbs 11:3; 21:28) and the association between honesty and godly wisdom (Proverbs 10:32; 12:17, 22).

Falsehood includes more than verbal lying. Hypocrisy is a form of falsehood that Jesus condemned in the religious leaders of his day. He instructed: "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others" (Matthew 6:16). He warned: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). The hypocrite lies by pretending to believe one thing while doing something else.

Ananias and Sapphira brought not only shame and disgrace on themselves but also death (Acts 5:1–11). They falsely suggested they had given the full sales amount of a piece of property. Tragically, this was an unnecessary lie. They were not obligated to give anything, but they wanted to be highly regarded for their feigned generosity. The same man who pronounced their judgment, Peter, later admonishes in 1 Peter 2:1 to "put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander."