Proverbs 17:4
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
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 they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Read in contextProverbs 28:4
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Read in context1 John 4:5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Read in contextIsaiah 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Read in contextJeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Read in contextRevelation 13:3–8
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Read in context1 Kings 22:6–28
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
Read in context