Proverbs 17:4 (ASV)

Passage

An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

Proverbs 17:4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:6 Children`s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "evil-doer", "giveth", "heed", "wicked", "lips", "liar", and "mischievous". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "evil-doer" and "giveth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "The refining pot is for silver and..." into verse 5's "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker...", so "evil-doer" and "giveth" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "evil-doer" and "giveth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.