Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 17th, 2024
the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fool;   Wisdom;   The Topic Concordance - Foolishness;   Understanding;   Wisdom;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Eye;   Fool;  

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation
Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Update Bible Version
Wisdom is before the face of him that has understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
New Century Version
The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom, but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.
Webster's Bible Translation
Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
World English Bible
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Amplified Bible
[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it], But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
English Standard Version
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wisdom schyneth in the face of a prudent man; the iyen of foolis ben in the endis of erthe.
English Revised Version
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Contemporary English Version
Anyone with wisdom knows what makes good sense, but fools can never make up their minds.
American Standard Version
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Bible in Basic English
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible
The discerning person focuses on wisdom there before him, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Darby Translation
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Intelligent people think about what needs to be done here and now. Fools are always dreaming about faraway places.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
King James Version (1611)
Wisedome is before him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the ends of the earth.
New Life Bible
Wisdom is with the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
New Revised Standard
The discerning person looks to wisdom, but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
George Lamsa Translation
The face of a man of understanding is set toward wisdom; but the eyes of a fool are in the depths of the earth.
Good News Translation
An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, are in the ends of the earth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
Revised Standard Version
A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wisdome [shineth] in the face of hym that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of fooles wander throughout al landes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool go to the ends of the earth.
Christian Standard Bible®
Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,but a fool’s eyes roam to the ends of the earth.
Hebrew Names Version
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the eretz.
King James Version
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Lexham English Bible
He who understands sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.
Literal Translation
With the face of the wise is wisdom, but a fool's eyes are in the ends of the earth.
Young's Literal Translation
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wy?dome shyneth in ye face of him yt hath vnderstondinge, but ye eyes of fooles wandre thorow out all lodes.
THE MESSAGE
The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.
New American Standard Bible
Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
New King James Version
Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Legacy Standard Bible
Wisdom is in the presence of the one who understands,But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Contextual Overview

24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

before: Proverbs 14:6, Proverbs 15:14, Ecclesiastes 2:14, Ecclesiastes 8:1, John 7:17

the eyes: Proverbs 23:5, Psalms 119:37, Ecclesiastes 6:9, 1 John 2:16

Reciprocal: Proverbs 8:9 - General Proverbs 24:7 - too Ecclesiastes 8:5 - a wise Matthew 11:19 - But

Cross-References

Genesis 12:4
So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.)
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am the sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.
Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, "Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"
Genesis 17:19
God said, "No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him.
Genesis 17:20
As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation.
Romans 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding,.... Is near him, to direct and assist him; it is before him as a rule to walk by, and it is the mark he aims at. A man of spiritual understanding has the book of wisdom before him, the Scriptures of truth, which are able to make a man wise to salvation; and he steers his course according to them; he sets Christ, the Wisdom of God, always before him; and keeps his eye on the mark for the prize, all the while he is running his Christian race: or, "in the face of an understanding man is wisdom" a; it is to be seen in his countenance, which is grave and composed;

but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth; where wisdom is not to be found, it is far off from him; his mind is wandering after every object, is unsettled and unfixed to anything; and which may be discerned in his eyes, which are rolling about and turning, first one way and then another; and which shows the levity and inconstancy of his mind.

a את פני מבין חכמה "in facie prudentis (lucet) sapientia", V. L. so Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Piscator, Noldius, p. 140. No. 665. "in vultu intelligentis sapientia", Schultens

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Before him - Set straight before his eyes as the mark to which they look. Others, following the Septuagint and Vulgate, interpret the verse, Wisdom is seen in the clear, stedfast look of the wise man as contrasted with the wandering gaze of the fool.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 17:24. Are in the ends of the earth. — Wisdom is within the sight and reach at every man: but he whose desires are scattered abroad, who is always aiming at impossible things, or is of an unsteady disposition, is not likely to find it.


 
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