The Nugget:
Pro 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. (KJV)
Pro 17:4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. (WEB, World English Bible)
Pro 17:4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue. (GW, God’s Word Bible)
Pro 17:4 People who do evil listen to evil ideas. Liars listen to liars. (ERV, Easy-to-Read Version)
Pro 17:4 One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. (NET Bible)
Pro 17:4 A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips. (LXX, Brenton translation)
My Comment:
Have you ever wondered why your voice is not heard, disregarded, or entirely passed over?
If you are standing for what is right and what is true, who listens is dependent upon their moral character.
This truth is widely applicable. I have seen it in collective bargaining, in binding arbitration, in legal dealings in secular, business, and personal settings. I have seen it in current news reporting and political speech too.
I have experienced this in local church settings as well as in Internet discussions. There are many individuals so set in their opinions that they will not hear to reason. They refuse to respond to evidence contrary to their own viewpoint. This may be the result of spiritual blindness, lack of reading comprehension, or the inability to write responses in their own words.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us we would experience this as well as what our reaction should be:
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Dig deeper into the themes contained in Proverbs 17:4 by studying the cross references from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
Pro 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Proverbs 17:4
wicked doer. Pro 28:4, 1Sa 22:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, *1Ki 22:6, etc. Isa 30:10, *Jer 5:30; *Jer 5:31.
giveth heed. 1Sa 24:9, Mic 2:11, *2Ti 4:3; *2Ti 4:4, 1Jn 4:5, Rev 13:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
to false lips. Exo 23:1.
a liar. Heb. lie. FS121E1, Gen 25:23, Lie put by the Figure Metonymy (of Effect) for the man who habitually lies: i.e. a liar is always ready to believe a lie (CB). 1Ki 22:6, Isa 30:9, 10, 11, Jer 5:30, 31, Mic 2:11.
naughty. FS108K42, +Pro 6:12.