Proverbs 17:7 (DRB)

Passage

Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17:7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

Proverbs 17:8 The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

Proverbs 17:9 He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "eloquent", "words", "become", "fool", "lying", "lips", and "prince". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "eloquent" and "words", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "Children's children are the crown of old..." into verse 8's "The expectation of him that expecteth is...", so "eloquent" and "words" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "eloquent" and "words" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.