"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

The duties required in the ninth commandment are,

• the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own;
• appearing and standing for the truth;
• and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever;
• a charitable esteem of our neighbors;
• sorrowing for, covering of their infirmities;
• freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocence;
• a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them;
• discouraging tale-bearers, flatterers, and slanderers;
• love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requires;
• keeping of lawful promises;
• studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.

The sins forbidden by the ninth commandment are,

• all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own, especially in public judicature;
• giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and over-bearing the truth;
• passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil;
• rewarding the wicked according to the works of the righteous and the righteous according to the work of the wicked;
• forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calls for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others;
• speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice;
• speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale-bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring;
• misconstruing intentions, words, and actions;
• flattering, vain-glorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others;
• denying the gifts and graces of God;
• aggravating smaller faults;
• hiding, excusing or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession;
• unnecessary discovery of infirmities;
• raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense;
• evil suspicion:
• envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy;
• scornful contempt, fond admiration;
• breach of lawful promises;
• neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.