9267. And perverteth the words of the righteous. That this signifies so that [these matters of self-advantage] appear like truths of good, is evident from the signification of “perverting the words of the righteous,” as being that they appear like truths of good; for “words” denote the things themselves, thus truths, and “the righteous” denote those who are in good (see n. 9263). That “words” denote truths, is because in the original tongue “a word” signifies that which is something, and which really exists; consequently it also signifies truth, for everything which really exists from esse [being] bears relation to truth. From this also it is that Divine truth is called “the Word.”