Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Parallel translations
- WEB Arrogant speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
- BSB Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
- NKJV Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.
- NASB Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.
- NLT Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Eloquent or proud speech ill suits a fool, and lying lips even worse befit a ruler. It matters because speech should match a person's character and calling.
Overview
This proverb notes the incongruity of fine speech from a fool and, more strongly, lying lips from a noble. Words and station ought to align with integrity. It especially condemns deceit in leaders, who bear a higher responsibility for truthfulness before God and people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 29:12If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
- Ps 50:16–17But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
- Job 34:12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
- Matt 7:5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
- Prov 16:10–13A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
- Prov 12:19The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
- Ps 101:3–5I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
- Prov 26:7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- 2 Sam 23:3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 17:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.