Proverbs 17:4
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A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
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Read our proverb closely, dear reader; for it is easy to miss the lesson of these words.
Solomon often condemns false lips, naughty tongues, and an evil mouth (6:17; 10:18,31-32; 12:13,22; 18:6-7,22; 21:6; 24:2,28; 26:24,28). And he praises godly and gracious speech throughout Proverbs (13:2; 15:23; 16:13; 18:20-21; 22:11; 24:26; 25:11).
The valuable lesson of all these proverbs is simple: a person who cannot control their speech and speak righteously and wisely is a wicked person and a fool (Luke 6:45).
But notice, this proverb does not condemn false lips or a naughty tongue. It condemns the person who listens to such speech, and here we learn much wisdom. To be truly holy and wise, we must avoid, reject, reprove, and eliminate the foolish speech of others.
We might agree certain speech is horrible; but if we listen to it, we are as wicked as the speakers. The only reason for listening is to satisfy a profane heart that enjoys it. So it is our wisdom to cut off all foolish talking and wicked speech and avoid them as much as possible (20:19; Eph 5:3-4). True holiness rejects evil talkers themselves (Titus 1:10-11).
This rule of wisdom even condemns an entire government as wicked, when the ruler listens to lies (29:12)! What does this say of parents who allow the words of a whisperer in their home? The jokes of a jester? The witness of one? The disrespect of authority?
When we are in the presence of a backbiter, we should stop them cold with an angry countenance (25:23). David, in his great desire for a holy life, purposed to cut off all slanderers and liars from his household (Psalm 101:5-7). This should be our noble goal.
The whisperer would be unemployed, if he were told to shut up and go away. The backbiter would have clean teeth, if she were told to stop her sinning. The jester would stop telling jokes, if hearers soberly stared at him like he was crazy. The slanderer would be alone, if her evil surmisings and false accusations were ridiculed. The talebearer would be talking to himself, if he were always rejected.
Men continue in their wicked speech only because they have an audience. But woe unto that man who listens to ungodly conversation, for he is revealing the same evil heart as the one speaking. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ refuse to hear evil again!
Cross-references:
Proverbs 19:27
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
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