Other translations
American Standard Version
Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A trustworthy utterance is unbecoming to a fool; so is a false utterance to a righteous one.
Darby Bible Translation
Excellent speech becometh not a vile man; how much less do lying lips a noble!
Holy Bible: Douay-Rheims Version (Genuine Leather Black)
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
ERV 1885 English Revised Version with Strong's Concordance
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
English Standard Version Journaling Bible
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
God's Word
Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool. How much less does lying fit a noble person!
Holman Christian Standard 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!
NET Bible
Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!
New American Standard Bible
Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.
New International Version
Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
New Living Translation
Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
Webster's Bible Translation
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
The World English Bible
Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
EasyEnglish Bible
It does not seem right when a fool says clever things. It is certainly not right when a ruler tells lies.
Young‘s Literal Translation
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
New Life Version
Fine speaking is not right for a fool. Even worse are lying lips to a ruler.
The Voice Bible
Elegant speech sounds odd when it comes from a fool, and a lie on the lips of a leader is even more out of place!
Living Bible
Truth from a rebel or lies from a king are both unexpected.
New Catholic Bible
Fine words are not becoming to a fool, and much less are false words to a noble.
Legacy Standard Bible
Excellent lips are not fitting for a wicked fool, Even less are lying lips for a noble man.
Jubilee Bible 2000
Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool: much less lying lips for a prince!
Christian Standard Bible
Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.
Amplified Bible © 1954
Fine or arrogant speech does not befit [an empty-headed] fool—much less do lying lips befit a prince.
New Century Version
Fools should not be proud, and rulers should not be liars.
The Message
We don’t expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
Evangelical Heritage Version ™
Eloquent lips are not fitting for a fool. How much less lying lips for a ruler!
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler.
Good News Translation®
Respected people do not tell lies, and fools have nothing worthwhile to say.
Wycliffe Bible
Words well-set together beseem not a fool; and a lying lip becometh not a prince. (Words put together well become not a fool; and lies become not a leader.)
Contemporary English Version
It sounds strange for a fool to talk sensibly, but it's even worse for a ruler to tell lies.
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Excess speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler.
Common English Bible © 2011
Too much talking isn’t right for a fool; even less so false speech for an honorable person.
Amplified Bible © 2015
Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind], Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
English Standard Version Anglicised
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Fine words ill fit a fool; how much more lying lips, a noble!
New American Standard Bible
Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.
The Expanded Bible
·Fools should not be proud [or It is not right for fools to be good speakers], and ·rulers [honorable people] should not ·be liars [L have lying lips].
Tree of Life Version
Arrogant lips are not fitting for a fool, much less lying lips for a ruler.
Revised Standard Version
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
New International Reader's Version
Fancy words don’t belong in the mouths of ungodly fools. And lies certainly don’t belong in the mouths of rulers!
BRG Bible
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Complete Jewish Bible
Fine speech is unbecoming to a boor, and even less lying lips to a leader.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler.
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Eloquent speech becometh not a naval (fool), much less do lying sfatayim (lips) a ruler.
Names of God Bible
Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool. How much less does lying fit a noble person!
Modern English Version
Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
Easy-to-Read Version
You wouldn’t expect to hear a fine speech from a fool, and you shouldn’t expect lies from a ruler.
International Children’s Bible
Foolish people should not be proud. And rulers should not be liars!
Lexham English Bible
Fine speech is not becoming a fool, still less is false speech for a ruler.
New International Version - UK
Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool – how much worse lying lips to a ruler!