Proverbs 17:24
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
- KJV
- Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
- WEB
- Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
- ASV
- Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
- DARBY
- Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
- BLB
- With the face of a discerning one [is] wisdom and the eyes of a fool [are] at the end of the earth.
- ÅB
- Den forstandige har visdommen for øye, men dårens øyne er ved jordens ende.
- OTB
- Visdom er i nærvær av den som har forstand, men øynene til en dåre vandrer til jordens ender.
- B1930
- Den forstandige har visdommen for øie, men dårens øine er ved jordens ende.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 8:1
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
Read in contextProverbs 14:6
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Read in contextPsalms 119:37
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.
Read in contextProverbs 23:5
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Read in contextJohn 7:17
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 6:9
Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Read in contextProverbs 15:14
A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
Read in context