Proverbs Chapter 17 verse 24 Holy Bible

ASV Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
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BBE Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
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DARBY Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
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KJV Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
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WBT Proverbs 17:24


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WEB Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
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YLT Proverbs 17:24

The face of the intelligent `is' to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.
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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.)