An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
Parallel translations
- WEB An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
- KJV A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty 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.
- 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 listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts;
- 1 Jn 4:5They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
- Prov 28:4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
- Isa 30:10who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
- Jer 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority; and my people love to have it so. What will you do in the end of it?
- Rev 13:3–8One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
- 1 Kgs 22:6–28Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I refrain?” They said, “Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- 1 Sam 22:7–11Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he 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.