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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:4

Note, 1. Those that design to do ill support themselves by falsehood and lying: A wicked doer gives ear, with a great deal of pleasure, to false lips, that will justify him in the ill he does, to those that aim to make public disturbances, catch greedily at libels, and false stories, that defame the government and the administration. 2. Those that take the liberty to tell lies take a pleasure in hearing them told: A liar gives heed to a malicious backbiting tongue, that he may have something... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:4

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips ,.... A man of an ill spirit, of a mischievous disposition, that delights in doing wickedness; he carefully attends to such as speak falsehood; he listens to lies and calumnies, loves to hear ill reports of persons, and takes pleasure in spreading them to the hurt of their characters; and men of bad hearts and lives give heed to seducing spirits, to false teachers, to inch as speak lies in hypocrisy, who sooth and harden them in their wickedness; ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 17:4

A wicked doer giveth heed - An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-9

Traits of outward dad inward happiness. Happiness depends more on the inward state than on the outward condition Hence— I. CONTENTMENT AS AN ELEMENT OF HAPPINESS . ( Proverbs 17:1 .) The dry morsel, with rest and quiet in the spirit, is better, says the preacher, than the most luxurious meal; the allusion being to slaughtered sacrificial animals as the chief constituents of a rich repast ( Proverbs 9:2 ; Genesis 43:16 ). It suggests the picture of "holy love, found... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:4

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:4

Proverbs 17:4. A wicked doer A malicious and mischievous man, whose practice and delight it is to bring trouble upon others; giveth heed to false lips Hebrew, שׂפת און , the lip of iniquity, to any wicked counsels or speeches; to false accusations and calumnies, which give him occasion and encouragement to do mischief. And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue He who accustoms himself to speak what is false and wicked, delights in the like speeches of others. This proverb contains a... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-28

Friends and fools (17:1-28)A peaceful family life, no matter how simple, is a great blessing, but a son may miss out on his family inheritance through his own folly (17:1-2). God’s dealings with his people are always for a good purpose, to make them better than they were before (3). To listen to evil talk is as bad as to speak evil oneself; to take pleasure in another’s troubles is as bad as to cause those troubles (4-5).Other proverbs concern the appreciation that the old and the young should... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 17:4

wicked = mischief maker. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . liar. Hebrew "lie". Text not "corrupt"; but "lie "is put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the man who habitually lies: i.e. a liar is always ready to believe a lie. Illustrations: Ahab (1 Kings 22:6 ); Jews (Isaiah 30:9-11 .Jeremiah 5:30 , Jeremiah 5:31 .Micah 2:11; Micah 2:11 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:4

"An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.""A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips."[7] "Evil people listen to evil ideas, and liars listen to lies."[8] It is obvious that many renditions are paraphrases rather than translations. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 17:4

Proverbs 17:4. And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue— And a hearkener after lies to, &c. Houbigant renders the verse, A wicked man will give ear to false lips, a just man will not hearken to an evil tongue. read more

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