A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;
    liars pay close attention to slander.

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A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(A)

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20 The crooked heart will not prosper;
    the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

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20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

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19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

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19 Better to be poor and honest
    than to be dishonest and a fool.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,(A)
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

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18 Just as damaging
    as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
    and then says, “I was only joking.”

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18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

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28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and flattering words cause ruin.

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28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(A) works ruin.

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