Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.
Parallel translations
- WEB Arrogant speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
- KJV Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips 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.
- 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 listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.
- Ps 50:16–17But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
- Job 34:12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
- Matt 7:5You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.
- Prov 16:10–13Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
- Prov 12:19Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
- Ps 101:3–5I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
- Prov 26:7Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- 2 Sam 23:3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.