Proverbs 17:4

Proverbs 17:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
• New International Version (NIV)A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
• English Standard Version (ESV)An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
• New King James Version (NKJV)An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

Context of Proverbs 17:4

2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers. 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts. An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. 5He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished. 6Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

Proverbs 17:4 word by word

מֵ֭רַע מַקְשִׁ֣יב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָ֑וֶן שֶׁ֥קֶר מֵ֝זִין עַל־לְשׁ֥וֹן הַוֹּֽת׃Read the interlinear

• evildoerרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• listensקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• to wickedאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• liarשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• paysאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• to a destructiveהַוָּהhavvâh · desireH1942
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:4

• Proverbs 28:4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.
• 1 Samuel 22:17And the king said to the guards who were attending him, “Turn around and put the priests of the Lord to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the Lord.
• 1 Kings 22:6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
• Isaiah 30:10Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
• 1 John 4:5They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
• Revelation 13:3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4A wicked doer giveth heed - An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The two clauses describe two phases of the mutual affinities of evil. The evil-doer delights in lies, the liar in bad words.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Flatterers, especially false teachers, are welcome to those that live in sin.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Lies (Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25; 25:18), gossip (11:13; 18:8), and slander (10:18) twist the truth to harm others.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Wicked doers and speakers alike delight in calumny.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:4

• Falsehood
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Lie; Lying
• Lip
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings