Proverbs 17

Proverbs · Chapter 17

Proverbs 17:4

1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
an evil-doerמֵ֭רַעME-ra'H7489A
be evil

רָעַע (ra.a) 1) to be bad, be evil 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to be displeasing 1a2) to be sad 1a3) to be injurious, be evil 1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to do an injury or hurt 1b2) to do evil or wickedly 1b3) mischief (participle)

[is] paying attentionמַקְשִׁ֣יבmak-SHIVH7181
to listen

קָשַׁב (qa.shav) 1) to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen 1a) (Qal) incline, attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen 1b) (Hiphil) to pay attention, give attention

onעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

a lip ofשְׂפַת־se-fat-H8193G
lips

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) : lips/mouth 1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding 1a) lip (as body part) 1b) language 1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

wickednessאָ֑וֶן'A-venH0205G
evil: wickedness

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) 1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow 1a) trouble, sorrow 1b) idolatry 1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness Also means: a.ven (אָ֫וֶן ": trouble" H0205H)

deceptionשֶׁ֥קֶרSHE-kerH8267
deception

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) 1e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1e1) false tongue 1f) in vain

[is] giving earמֵ֝זִיןME-zinH0238
to listen

אָזַן (a.zan) 1) to hear, listen 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to hear, listen, give ear 1a2) to be obedient, harken 1a3) to hear or listen to prayers (of God)

onעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

a tongue ofלְשׁ֥וֹןle-SHONH3956G
tongue

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) : tongue/words 1) tongue 1a) tongue (of men) 1a1) tongue (literal) 1a2) tongue (organ of speech) 1b) language 1c) tongue (of animals) 1d) tongue (of fire) 1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

destructionsהַוֹּֽת׃ha-VOTH1942
desire

הַוָּה (hav.vah) 1) desire 1a) desire (in bad sense) 2) chasm (fig. of destruction) 2a) engulfing ruin, destruction, calamity

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.