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

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Fine speech is not (A)becoming to a fool;
    still less is (B)false speech to a prince.

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Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)

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26 It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person
or to beat a noble for his honesty.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 17:26 Or noble unfairly

26 (A)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

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26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(A)
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

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