Proverbs 18:15

The discerning person ¹  acquires knowledge, and the wise person ²  seeks ³  knowledge.

biblegateway Pro 18:15

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

biblegateway Pro 18:15

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

biblegateway Pro 18:15

Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them.

biblegateway Pro 18:15

Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.

SABDAweb Pro 18:15

The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.

bibleoremus Pro 18:15

An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

biblegateway Pro 18:15

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

biblegateway Pro 18:15

The discerning person ¹  acquires knowledge, and the wise person ²  seeks ³  knowledge.

¹ tn Heb “discerning heart.” The term “heart” is a synecdoche of part (= heart) for the whole (= person); cf. TEV, NLT “intelligent people.” By paralleling “heart” and “ear” the proverb stresses the full acquisition of knowledge. The “ear” listens to instruction, and the heart considers what is heard to acquire knowledge.

² tn Heb “the ear of the wise.” The term “ear” is a synecdoche of part (= ear) for the whole (= person): “wise person.”

² sn The wise continually seek more knowledge. D. Kidner says, “Those who know most know best how little they know” (Proverbs [TOTC], 129).

³ sn This line features a mixed metaphor: The “ear” is pictured “seeking.” The “ear of the wise” actually means the wise person’s capacity to hear, and so the wise are seeking as they hear.