Proverbs 18:15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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.