Proverbs 22:17

NETBible

Incline your ear 2  and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. 3 

NIV ©

Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,

NASB ©

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;

NLT ©

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

MSG ©

Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You'll treasure its sweetness deep within;

BBE ©

Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.

NRSV ©

The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your mind to my teaching;

NKJV ©

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;

KJV
Bow down
<05186> (8685)
thine ear
<0241>_,
and hear
<08085> (8798)
the words
<01697>
of the wise
<02450>_,
and apply
<07896> (8799)
thine heart
<03820>
unto my knowledge
<01847>_.
NASB ©
Incline
<5186>
your ear
<241>
and hear
<8085>
the words
<1697>
of the wise
<2450>
, And apply
<7896>
your mind
<3820>
to my knowledge
<1847>
;
LXXM
logoiv
<3056> 
N-DPM
sofwn
<4680> 
A-GPM
paraballe
<3846> 
V-PAD-2S
son
<4674> 
A-ASN
ouv
<3775> 
N-ASN
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
akoue
<191> 
V-PAD-2S
emon
<1699> 
A-ASM
logon
<3056> 
N-ASM
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
de
<1161> 
PRT
shn
<4674> 
A-ASF
kardian
<2588> 
N-ASF
episthson {V-AAD-2S} ina
<2443> 
CONJ
gnwv
<1097> 
V-AAS-2S
oti
<3754> 
CONJ
kaloi
<2570> 
A-NPM
eisin
<1510> 
V-PAI-3P
NET [draft] ITL
Incline
<05186>
your ear
<0241>
and listen
<08085>
to the words
<01697>
of the wise
<02450>
, and apply
<07896>
your heart
<03820>
to my instruction
<01847>
.
HEBREW
ytedl
<01847>
tyst
<07896>
Kblw
<03820>
Mymkx
<02450>
yrbd
<01697>
emsw
<08085>
Knza
<0241>
jh (22:17)
<05186>
NETBible

Incline your ear 2  and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. 3 

NET Notes

1 sn A new collection of sayings begins here, forming the fourth section of the book of Proverbs. This collection is not like that of 1:1–9:18; here the introductory material is more personal than 1:1-7, and the style differs, showing great similarity to the Instruction of Amenemope in Egypt (especially the thirty precepts of the sages in 22:17–24:22). Verses 17-21 form the introduction, and then the sayings begin in v. 22. After the thirty sayings are given, there are further sayings in 24:23-34. There is much literature on this material: see W. K. Simpson, ed., Literature of Ancient Egypt; ANET 412-425; and A. Cody, “Notes on Proverbs 22:21 and 22:23b,” Bib 61 (1980): 418-26.

2 sn To “incline the ear” means to “listen carefully” (cf. NCV); the expression is metonymical in that the ear is the instrument for hearing. It is like telling someone to lean over to hear better.

3 tn Heb “knowledge” (so KJV, NASB); in this context it refers to the knowledge that is spoken by the wise, hence “instruction.”