Proverbs 17:7 (YLT)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

Proverbs 17:6 Sons' sons <FI>are<Fi> the crown of old men, And the glory of sons <FI>are<Fi> their fathers.

Proverbs 17:7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

Proverbs 17:8 A stone of grace <FI>is<Fi> the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

Proverbs 17:9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "comely", "fool", "excellency", "much", "less", "noble", and "falsehood". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "comely" and "fool", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "Sons' sons FI are Fi the crown..." into verse 8's "A stone of grace FI is Fi...", so "comely" and "fool" 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 "comely" and "fool" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.