Verse (Click for Chapter) 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. Contemporary English Version Troublemakers listen to troublemakers, and liars listen to liars. 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. Majority Standard Bible A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. NET Bible One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAn evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, "" Falsehood is giving 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. Smith's Literal Translation He doing evil attends upon, lips of vanity; he lying feeds upon a tongue of mischief. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips. Catholic Public Domain Version The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips. New American Bible The evildoer gives heed to wicked lips, the liar, to a mischievous tongue. New Revised Standard Version An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleA wicked man listens to perverse lips; but a righteous man does not heed the tongues of vicious men. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated An evil man listens to the lips of the wicked, and the righteous does not hear the tongue of the wicked. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue. Brenton Septuagint Translation A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips. 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 James 1:19-20 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, / for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. Psalm 52:3-4 You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah / You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. Jeremiah 9:3-6 “They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity. ... John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. Isaiah 30:9-11 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness. Micah 6:12 For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. Romans 1:28-32 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. / They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. ... Ezekiel 33:31-32 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. / By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ... Hosea 4:1-2 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. Zechariah 7:11-12 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. 2 Peter 2:1-3 Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep. 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. Jump to Previous 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 WrongdoerJump to Next 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 WrongdoerProverbs 17 1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the WickedA wicked man listens to evil lips; This phrase highlights the moral character of the individual who is receptive to harmful speech. In biblical context, the term "wicked" often refers to those who are morally corrupt and opposed to God's ways. Listening to "evil lips" suggests a willingness to entertain and accept falsehoods or malicious talk. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that one's character is reflected in whom they choose to listen to and associate with. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, oral communication was a primary means of conveying information, making the act of listening a significant moral choice. The Psalms and Proverbs frequently warn against the influence of the wicked (Psalm 1:1, Proverbs 1:10-19), emphasizing the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding from righteous sources. a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. Persons / Places / Events 1. Wicked ManIn the context of Proverbs, a wicked man is someone who is morally wrong, guilty, or hostile to God. The Hebrew word used here is (rasha), which often denotes someone who is actively engaged in wrongdoing. 2. Evil Lips This phrase refers to speech that is harmful, deceitful, or morally corrupt. It implies communication that leads others away from truth and righteousness. 3. Liar A person who speaks falsehoods or is deceitful. The Hebrew word (sheqer) is used, indicating falsehood or deception. 4. Destructive Tongue This refers to speech that causes harm, division, or destruction. It is speech that tears down rather than builds up. Teaching Points Guard Your Ears and HeartBe mindful of the voices you listen to. Just as a wicked man listens to evil lips, we must be cautious about the influences we allow into our lives. Surround yourself with godly counsel and truth. The Power of Words Recognize the impact of your speech. Words can build up or tear down. Strive to use your tongue to encourage and edify others, avoiding deceit and destruction. Discernment in Relationships Evaluate the character of those you associate with. Are they leading you towards righteousness or away from it? Choose friends and mentors who speak truth and life. Self-Reflection on Speech Consider your own words. Are you guilty of being a "destructive tongue"? Seek forgiveness and strive to align your speech with God's truth. Pursue Truth and Integrity Commit to being a person of truth, both in what you say and in what you listen to. Reject lies and deceit, and seek to live with integrity.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 manמֵ֭רַע (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 Links Proverbs 17:4 NIVProverbs 17:4 NLT Proverbs 17:4 ESV Proverbs 17:4 NASB Proverbs 17:4 KJV Proverbs 17:4 BibleApps.com Proverbs 17:4 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 17:4 Chinese Bible Proverbs 17:4 French Bible Proverbs 17:4 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips (Prov. 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