Proverbs 17:4 (DBY)

Passage

The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Nearby Context

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

Proverbs 17:3 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.

Proverbs 17:4 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

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", "iniquitous", "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 fining-pot is for silver and the..." into verse 5's "Whoso mocketh a poor man reproacheth his...", 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.