BSB
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
WEB
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
KJV
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Matthew Henry
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Verse 4
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 to graft his lies upon, and with which to give them some colour of truth and so to support them. Sinners will strengthen one another's hands; and those show that they are bad themselves who court the acquaintance and need the assistance of those that are bad.