Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 22:17
17Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.
Proverbs 22:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
- New International Version (NIV)Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;
Context of Proverbs 22:17
15Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth; a rod of discipline will separate it from him. 16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty. Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. 18For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. 19I have instructed you today — even you — so that your confidence may be in the Lord.
Read all of Proverbs 22Proverbs 22:17 word by word
הַ֥ט אָזְנְךָ֗ וּ֭שְׁמַע דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֑ים וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ תָּשִׁ֥ית לְדַעְתִּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 22:17
- Proverbs 2:2listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding;
- Proverbs 5:1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding
- Proverbs 1:3for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity;
- Proverbs 3:1My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands;
- Proverbs 4:4he taught me and said, “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
- Proverbs 8:33Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it.
- Isaiah 55:3Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live. I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.
- Matthew 17:5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!”
- Proverbs 23:12Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge.
- Psalms 90:12Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
- Ecclesiastes 7:25I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and examine wisdom and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness.
- Ecclesiastes 8:9All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm.
Commentaries on Proverbs 22:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Bow down thine ear - From this to the end of Proverbs 22:21; are contained, not proverbs, but directions how to profit by that which wisdom has already delivered; the nature of the instruction, and the end for which it was given. I shall give a paraphrase of this very important passage: - I. Solomon addresses his pupils on the use of his past teachings. See on Proverbs 22:6; (note). The wise man speaks; and all his words, not merely his sentiments, are to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17This is the commencement of a new and entirely distinct section, opening, after the fashion of Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:21; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 7:1; with a general exhortation Proverbs 22:17-21 and passing on to special precepts. The “words of the wise” may be a title to the section: compare Proverbs 24:23. The general characteristics of this section appear to be (1) a less close attention to the laws of parallelism, and (2) a tendency to longer and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the word of truth, is to make conscience of our duty.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-21Like the prologue in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:2–7) and the introductions to the individual discourses (see Proverbs 1:8–9; 2:1–11), this section starts by encouraging listening. This wisdom goes beyond practical advice; it aims to inspire trust in the Lord.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Here begins another division of the book, marked by those encouragements to the pursuit of wisdom, which are found in the earlier chapters. It will be observed that at Pr 22:22-24:12, the proverbs are generally expressed in two verses instead of one (see Introduction).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 22:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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