Proverbs 17:7

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֹא־נָאוָה לְנָבָל שְׂפַת־יֶתֶר אַף כִּי־לְנָדִיב שְׂפַת־שָׁקֶר

Transliteration

Not nā'wāh for nābāl śəpat-yeter 'ap kî-for nādîb śəpat-šāqer

Grammar Details

*lō*: negative particle - not
*nā'wāh*: verb, Qal perfect, 3rd person feminine singular - it is fitting/becoming
*lə-nābāl*: preposition + noun - for a fool
*śəpat*: noun, feminine singular construct - speech of/lip of
*yeter*: noun - excellence/superiority/excess
*'ap*: conjunction - moreover/indeed/also
*kî*: conjunction - that/because/since
*lə-nādîb*: preposition + noun - for a noble one
*šāqer*: noun - falsehood/lie/deception

Word Meanings

*nā'wāh*: befitting/suitable/becoming/appropriate
*nābāl*: fool/senseless person
*śəpat*: speech/language/lip
*yeter*: excellent/superior/excessive/lofty
*'ap kî*: how much less/much more/certainly
*nādîb*: noble/willing/generous person
*šāqer*: falsehood/deception/lie

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

2 Sam 23:3 : 3 The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God,
Job 34:12 : 12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Ps 50:16-17 : 16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth, 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee?
Ps 101:3-5 : 3 I will set no base thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; It shall not cleave unto me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me: I will know no evil thing. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.
Prov 12:19 : 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Prov 16:10-13 : 10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment. 11 A just balance and scales are Jehovah's; All the weights of the bag are his work. 12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
Prov 26:7 : 7 The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Prov 29:12 : 12 If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.
Matt 7:5 : 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 19:10
80%
10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Prov 14:3
76%
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Prov 17:6
76%
6Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
Prov 19:1
75%
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Prov 17:4
75%
4An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Prov 23:9
74%
9Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Prov 15:7
74%
7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.
Prov 27:2
74%
2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
Prov 17:20-21
2 verses
74%
20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
Prov 12:22-23
2 verses
74%
22Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight.
23A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Prov 15:2
74%
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Prov 16:13
73%
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
Eccl 4:13
73%
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Prov 10:18-19
2 verses
73%
18He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
Eccl 10:12
73%
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Prov 17:25-28
4 verses
73%
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
27He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
Prov 14:7
73%
7Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
Prov 14:24
73%
24The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
Prov 29:11-12
2 verses
73%
11A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
12If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.
Ps 31:18
73%
18Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.
Prov 16:10
73%
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
Prov 25:6-7
2 verses
72%
6Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
7For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
Prov 15:5
72%
5A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.
Prov 18:6-7
2 verses
72%
6A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
7A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
Hos 7:3
72%
3They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
Prov 10:8
72%
8The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
Prov 26:4
72%
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
Eccl 9:17
71%
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Prov 12:17
71%
17He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.
Prov 24:7
71%
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Prov 26:1
71%
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
Prov 4:24
71%
24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
Prov 26:7
71%
7The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Prov 29:20
71%
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Ps 36:3
71%
3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise [and] to do good.
Prov 17:8
71%
8A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Prov 16:23
71%
23The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
Prov 28:16
71%
16The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; [But] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Prov 13:16
70%
16Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
Ps 34:13
70%
13Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
Prov 12:19
70%
19The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.