Proverbs 17:4
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
- KJV
- A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
- WEB
- An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
- ASV
- An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
- DARBY
- The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
- BLB
- One doing evil pays attention to lips of iniquity; a liar gives ear to a tongue of evil desires.
- ÅB
- Den onde akter på ondskaps leppe; løgneren lytter til ødeleggelses tunge.
- OTB
- En ugjerningsmann lytter til bedragerske lepper; en løgner hører på en skadelig tunge.
- B1930
- Den onde akter på ondskaps lebe; løgneren lytter til ødeleggelses tunge.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Timothy 4:3–4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
Read in contextProverbs 28:4
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
Read in context1 John 4:5
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
Read in contextIsaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
Read in contextJeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
Read in contextRevelation 13:3–8
One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.
Read in context1 Kings 22:6–28
So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
Read in context