Proverbs 17:4
New International Version
A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

New Living Translation
Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

English Standard Version
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Berean Standard Bible
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

King James Bible
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

New King James Version
An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

New American Standard Bible
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

NASB 1995
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

NASB 1977
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Legacy Standard Bible
An evildoer gives heed to lips of wickedness; A liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

Amplified Bible
An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips; And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.

Christian Standard Bible
A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

American Standard Version
An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
An evil man listens to the lips of the wicked, and the righteous does not hear the tongue of the wicked.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.

Contemporary English Version
Troublemakers listen to troublemakers, and liars listen to liars.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

English Revised Version
An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.

Good News Translation
Evil people listen to evil ideas, and liars listen to lies.

International Standard Version
Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk.

JPS Tanakh 1917
A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Literal Standard Version
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, | Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

Majority Standard Bible
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

New American Bible
The evildoer gives heed to wicked lips, the liar, to a mischievous tongue.

NET Bible
One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.

New Revised Standard Version
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

New Heart English Bible
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Webster's Bible Translation
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

World English Bible
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Young's Literal Translation
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness
3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts. 4A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. 5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.…

Cross References
Job 16:11
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.

Proverbs 14:15
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.


Treasury of Scripture

A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.

Proverbs 28:4
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

1 Samuel 22:17-11
And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD…

1 Kings 22:6
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

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Attention Attentive Damaging Deceit Destructive Doer Ear Evil Evildoer Evil-Doer False. Falsehood Gives Heed Heeds Iniquitous Lips Malicious Mischievous Naughty Pays Tongue Vanity Wicked Wrongdoer
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Attention Attentive Damaging Deceit Destructive Doer Ear Evil Evildoer Evil-Doer False. Falsehood Gives Heed Heeds Iniquitous Lips Malicious Mischievous Naughty Pays Tongue Vanity Wicked Wrongdoer
Proverbs 17
1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked














Verse 4. - A wicked doer giveth heed to false (evil) lips. A bad man delights in and hearkens to evil words; he takes pleasure in those who counsel wickedness, because they are after his own heart. Like mates with like. And a liar giveth ear to a naughty (mischievous) tongue. One who is himself mendacious listens with avidity to any tale that may injure a neighbour. however monstrous and improbable it may be. Septuagint, "A wicked man listens to the tongue of transgressors; but a just man heedeth not false lips." The Greek adds here, or in some manuscripts, after ver. 6, a paragraph which is not found in the Hebrew, Syriac, or Latin: "To him who is faithful the whole world wealth belongs; but the unfaithful is not worth an obole." On this the Fathers have frequently commented (see Corn. a Lapide, in loc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A wicked man
מֵ֭רַע (mê·ra‘)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

listens
מַקְשִׁ֣יב (maq·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7181: To prick up the ears, hearken

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

evil
אָ֑וֶן (’ā·wen)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 205: Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol

lips;
שְׂפַת־ (śə·p̄aṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

a liar
שֶׁ֥קֶר (še·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood

gives ear
מֵ֝זִין (mê·zîn)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 238: To broaden out the ear, to listen

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a destructive
הַוֺּֽת׃ (haw·wōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1942: Desire, chasm, destruction

tongue.
לְשׁ֥וֹן (lə·šō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 3956: The tongue


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips (Prov. Pro Pr)
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