A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Parallel translations
- WEB An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
- BSB A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
- NKJV An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
- NASB An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
- NLT Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wrongdoers and liars are drawn to wicked and deceitful speech. It matters because we are attracted to words that match the bent of our own hearts.
Overview
This proverb observes that evildoers give attention to wicked lips and liars to malicious tongues. People listen eagerly to what suits their character. It warns that what we choose to hear reveals and shapes our hearts, calling instead for ears tuned to truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Tim 4:3–4For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- 1 Jn 4:5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
- Prov 28:4They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
- Isa 30:10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
- Jer 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
- Rev 13:3–8And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
- 1 Kgs 22:6–28Then 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.
- 1 Sam 22:7–11Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 17:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.