Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.

King James Version

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Holman Bible

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

International Standard Version

Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince!

A Conservative Version

Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.

American Standard Version

Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

Amplified


Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.

Bible in Basic English

Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.

Darby Translation

Excellent speech becometh not a vile man; how much less do lying lips a noble!

Julia Smith Translation

The lip of excellence is not becoming to, the foolish one: much less the lip. of falsehood to the noble one.

King James 2000

Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Lexham Expanded Bible

{Fine speech} [is] not becoming a fool, {still less} [is] {false speech} for a ruler.

Modern King James verseion

An excellent lip is not fitting for a fool; much less are lying lips fitting for a prince.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

An eloquent speech becometh not a fool; much less a lying mouth, then, becometh a prince.

NET Bible

Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

New Heart English Bible

Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

The Emphasized Bible

Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.

Webster

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

World English Bible

Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

Youngs Literal Translation

Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
שׂפת שׂפה 
Saphah 
Usage: 176

נאוה 
Na'veh 
Usage: 10

not a fool
נבל 
Nabal 
Usage: 18

שׁקר 
Sheqer 
Usage: 113

שׂפת שׂפה 
Saphah 
Usage: 176

References

Hastings

Context Readings

Proverbs Of Solomon

6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.
8 A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.



Cross References

2 Samuel 23:3

“The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me,
He who rules over men righteously,
Who rules in the fear of God,

Job 34:12

“Surely, God will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.

Psalm 50:16-17

But to the wicked God says,
“What right have you to tell of My statutes
And to take My covenant in your mouth?

Psalm 101:3-5

I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not fasten its grip on me.

Proverbs 12:19

Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

Proverbs 16:10-13

A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.

Proverbs 26:7

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Proverbs 29:12

If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.

Matthew 7:5

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain