Proverbs 17:7
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
- KJV
- Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
- WEB
- Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
- ASV
- Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
- DARBY
- Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
- BLB
- A lip of excellence is not lovely to a fool, even less to a prince [is] a lip of falsehood.
- ÅB
- Det sømmer seg ikke for dåren å tale store ord, enn mindre for den høybårne å tale løgn.
- OTB
- Veltalende tale passer ikke for en dåre, langt mindre løgnaktige lepper for en leder.
- B1930
- Det sømmer sig ikke for dåren å tale store ord, enn mindre for den høibårne å tale løgn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
Read in contextPsalms 50:16–17
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?
Read in contextPsalms 101:3–5
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Read in contextProverbs 16:10–13
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Read in contextMatthew 7:5
Thou 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.
Read in contextProverbs 12:19
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Read in context2 Samuel 23:3
The 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.
Read in contextProverbs 26:7
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Read in context