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 an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. 3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the Lord tests hearts. One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. 6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

Proverbs 17:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wicked doerרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• giveth heedקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• to falseאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• a liarשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• giveth earאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• to a naughtyהַוָּהhavvâh · 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 contend with them.
• 1 Samuel 22:17Then the king said to the messengers who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm the priests of the Lord.
• 1 Kings 22:6So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” They said, “Attack! The sovereign one will hand it over to the king.”
• Isaiah 30:10They say to the visionaries, “See no more visions!” and to the seers, “Don’t relate messages to us about what is right! Tell us nice things, relate deceptive messages.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy lies. The priests exercise power by their own authority. And my people love to have it this way. But they will not be able to help you when the time of judgment comes!
• 2 Timothy 4:3For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
• 1 John 4:5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them.
• Revelation 13:3One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement;

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