Perfidy (treachery)

The sign was a kiss. In Matthew 26 Judas tells the crowd, “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.” Treachery in Scripture is seldom a stranger’s attack; more often it is a close companion’s smile with a plan behind it. Proverbs and the Psalms call it deceit, and one psalmist says, “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house.” Jeremiah hears it in a whole nation, where “her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart.” Paul, by contrast, speaks of having renounced “the hidden things of dishonesty.” Read Matthew 26 and Psalm 41 together to see how old and how near this wound is.

385 verses

Exodus

Exodus 8:15

But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exodus 8:28

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

Exodus 8:29

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.

Exodus 8:32

And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

Exodus 9:27

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

Exodus 9:28

Intreat the LORD(for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

Exodus 9:29

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.

Exodus 9:30

But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

Exodus 9:31

And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

Exodus 9:32

But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

Exodus 9:33

And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

Exodus 9:34

And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Exodus 9:35

And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

Numbers

Numbers 14:4

And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 22:8

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

Job

Job 8:13

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Job 8:14

Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.

Job 8:15

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

Job 13:16

He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Job 15:31

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

Job 15:33

He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

Job 15:34

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

Job 17:8

Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

Job 20:4

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Job 20:6

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Job 20:7

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Job 20:8

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

Job 20:9

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

Job 20:10

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

Job 20:11

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

Job 20:12

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

Job 20:13

Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

Job 20:14

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

Job 20:15

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

Job 20:16

He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

Job 20:17

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

Job 20:18

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

Job 27:8

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

Job 27:9

Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

Job 27:10

Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

Job 27:13

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

Job 27:14

If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Job 27:15

Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

Job 27:16

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

Job 27:17

He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

Job 27:18

He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

Job 31:33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Job 31:34

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Job 34:30

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Job 36:13

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

Job 36:14

They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Psalms

Psalms 5:9

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalms 50:16

But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

Psalms 50:17

Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

Psalms 52:4

Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Psalms 55:12

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

Psalms 55:13

But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

Psalms 55:14

We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Psalms 55:20

He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

Psalms 55:21

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Psalms 55:23

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Psalms 101:7

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

Proverbs

Proverbs 7:10

And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Proverbs 7:11

(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

Proverbs 7:12

Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

Proverbs 7:13

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

Proverbs 7:14

I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

Proverbs 7:15

Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

Proverbs 7:16

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

Proverbs 7:17

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Proverbs 7:18

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

Proverbs 7:19

For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

Proverbs 7:20

He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

Proverbs 7:21

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

Proverbs 11:9

An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 20:14

It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

Proverbs 21:27

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Proverbs 23:6

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Proverbs 23:8

The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

Proverbs 25:19

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Proverbs 26:18

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

Proverbs 26:19

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Proverbs 26:23

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Proverbs 26:24

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

Proverbs 26:25

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Proverbs 26:26

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

Isaiah

Isaiah 1:11

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Isaiah 1:12

When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

Isaiah 1:13

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Isaiah 1:14

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Isaiah 1:15

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 7:12

But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

Isaiah 9:17

Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 10:6

I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isaiah 29:15

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Based on Nave's Topical Bible by Orville J. Nave (1896). Public domain. KJV scripture text, public domain.