Proverbs 17:4 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; (and) a liar (literally, a lie) giveth ear to a naughty tongue - literally, 'to a tongue of perversities'-a tongue that speaketh nothing but what is perverse, to the grievous injury of others. Malignity of action is generally combined with falsehood. Not content with his own inborn depravity, the "wicked doer" seeks out helps to foment it and so gives ear to those who are more practiced and ingenious in evil than himself, in order to add mischief of tongue to mischief of deed.

Proverbs 17:4

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.