Eloquence or lies

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

ELOQUENCE OR LIES

Prov 17:7

7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool — how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

NIV’

Perhaps arrogant isn’t the best choice as other translations along with the original carry more of a sense of excellent words spoken, or eloquent words are simply not suitable for a fool to speak. It is unlikely that a fool would say anything that was considered worthy of eloquence, but what is eloquence? We should not dare to judge someone to be a fool based on his inability to speak in an eloquent manner, yet those who God considers as fools are the ones who refuse to accept Jesus Christ. So perhaps if one is not speaking about the things of God, no matter what they are speaking about it is not eloquent. The rest of this saying is certainly a condemnation on those who would be considered rulers. Those who, in our country, we elect to lead us, to be in positions of leadership in the government, are surely guilty of having lying lips. Every day we are exposed to another lie by most of those in office. Certainly they will receive their just reward in the end. But we should also consider that many of us rule in some sense. We who are the head of our family are responsible to God for them and therefore are given authority over them. Since we have authority we could be consider a ruler and therefore should be careful not to fall into the traps of lies. It is far better the keep our lips from lies and speak eloquent words.