Proverbs Chapter 17 verse 24 Holy Bible
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
read chapter 17 in ASV
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
read chapter 17 in BBE
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
read chapter 17 in DARBY
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
read chapter 17 in KJV
read chapter 17 in WBT
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
read chapter 17 in WEB
The face of the intelligent `is' to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.
read chapter 17 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 24. - Wisdom is before [the face of] him that hath understanding. The idea is that the intelligent man directs his look towards Wisdom, and therefore she beams upon him with all her light; as the Vulgate puts it, "In the face of the prudent wisdom shines." He has one object to which he directs all his attention (Proverbs 15:14). The Septuagint rendering is not so satisfactory: "The countenance of a prudent man is wise;" he shows in his look and bearing the wisdom that guides him. Thus Ecclesiastes 8:1, "A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed." The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. A fool has no one definite object in view; he pursues a hundred different things, as they happen to come in his way, but misses the most important quest of all and fritters away the powers which might have aided him to obtain wisdom.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(24) Wisdom is before him that hath understanding--i.e., he can easily find her.But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.--He is looking for her everywhere, while all the time she lies straight before him. (For the thought, comp. Deuteronomy 30:11-14.)