Bible/Proverbs/17

Proverbs 17:4

17:3 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.

KJV

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

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

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

17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. unpunished: Heb. held innocent

What does Proverbs 17:4 mean?

Proverbs 17:4 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include רָעַע (râʻaʻ), קָשַׁב (qâshab), אָוֶן (ʼâven). It connects to 15 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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A
wicked
doerרָעַעrâʻaʻ/raw-ah'/H7489properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good fornothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)
giveth
heedקָשַׁבqâshab/kaw-shab'/H7181to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
to
falseאָוֶןʼâven/aw-ven'/H205strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
lips;שָׂפָהsâphâh/saw-faw'/H8193the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
and
a
liarשֶׁקֶרsheqer/sheh'-ker/H8267an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
giveth
earאָזַןʼâzan/aw-zan'/H238to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
to
a
naughtyהַוָּהhavvâh/hav-vaw'/H1942by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin
tongue.לָשׁוֹןlâshôwn/law-shone'/H3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

Commentary on Proverbs 17:4

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 17:4
Note, 1. Those that design to do ill support themselves by falsehood and lying: A wicked doer gives ear, with a great deal of pleasure, to false lips, that will justify him in the ill he does, to those that aim to make public disturbances, catch greedily at libels, and false stories, that defame the government and the administration. 2. Those that take the liberty to tell lies take a pleasure in hearing them told: A liar gives heed to a malicious backbiting tongue, that he may have something to graft his lies upon, and with which to give them some colour of truth and so to support them. Sinners will strengthen one another's hands; and those show that they are bad themselves who court the acquaintance and need the assistance of those that are bad. 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 6:5

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

1 Chronicles 29:13

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:20

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 9:1

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

Isaiah 12:1

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Acts 8:37

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Romans 15:6

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Revelation 5:9

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Revelation 19:5

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

Revelation 19:6

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Topics

Titles and Names of the Wicked

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 17:4.

Isaiah 28:23

Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

Isaiah 42:23

Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? for: Heb. for the after time?

Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

Job 6:30

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? my taste: Heb. my palate

Leviticus 5:4

Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

Psalms 10:7

His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. deceit: Heb. deceits vanity: or, iniquity

Psalms 17:1

A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. the right: Heb. justice not: Heb. without lips of deceit

Psalms 5:9

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. faithfulness: or, stedfastness their mouth: Heb. his mouth, that is, the mouth of any of them very: Heb. wickednesses

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 17:4 say?

Proverbs 17:4 (King James Version) reads: "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue."

Is Proverbs 17:4 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 17:4 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 17:4, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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