Proverbs 17:4
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
In Context
3The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
Cross References
1 Samuel 22:7Then Saul said to his servants who were there about him, Give ear now, you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give to every one of you fields and vine-gardens, will he make you all captains of hundreds and captains of thousands;
Proverbs 28:4Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.
Jeremiah 5:31The prophets give false words and the priests give decisions by their direction; and my people are glad to have it so: and what will you do in the end?
1 John 4:5They are of the world, so their talk is the world's talk, and the world gives ear to them.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:4
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts. Note, 1. The hearts of the children of men are subject, not only to God's view, but to his judgment: As the fining-pot is for silver, both to prove it and to improve it so the Lord tries the hearts; he searches whether they are standard or no, and those that are he refines and makes purer, Jer. xvii. 10 . God tries the heart by affliction ( Ps. lxvi. 10, 11 ), and often chooses his people in that furnace ( Isa. xlviii. 10 )… Read the whole commentary →