Proverbs 17:4
Those who do what is evil pay attention to people who say [MTY] what is evil, and liars pay attention to other people’s lies.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
In Context
Cross References
1 Samuel 22:7He shouted to them, “You men of the tribe of Benjamin, listen to me! Do you think that the son of Jesse will give all of you fields and vineyards if he becomes your king? Will he appoint all of you to become generals and captains in his army [RHQ]?
Proverbs 28:4Those who reject/disobey God’s laws always speak well of wicked people; but those who obey God’s laws always oppose what wicked people do.
Jeremiah 5:31Prophets speak only lies and priests rule by their own authority, and you people like that! But when you start to experience disasters, what will you do [RHQ]?”
1 John 4:5As for those who are teaching what is false, they are ◄godless people/people whose lives are displeasing to God► [MTY]. Because of that, they teach what ◄godless people/people whose lives are displeasing to God► [MTY] want to hear. That is why the ◄godless people/people whose lives displease God► [MTY] listen 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 →