15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
With the wise and prudent there is no loss of time. "Heart" and "ear" - the mind working within, or gathering from without materials for its thought - are, through this channel or that, ever gaining knowledge.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge,.... More knowledge; for he must have some, and a considerable share, to be denominated "prudent", whether in things natural, civil, or spiritual: and such will be heartily desirous of more, and make use of all means to attain it, by which they do come at a large share of it;
and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge; a wise man seeks to get it by hearing; he listens to what others say, and especially such that are wiser and more knowing than himself: so such as are wise to salvation, as they desire to know more of Christ and of divine things, and make use of all means for that purpose; among the rest, hearken to what Christians, of a superior class to themselves, drop in private conversation; and particularly they constantly attend to the ministry of the word; and thus seeking it, they find an increase of it.
We must get knowledge, not only into our heads, but into our hearts.
15 The heart of a man of understanding gaineth knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeketh after knowledge.
נבון may be also interpreted as an adj., but we translate it here as at Proverbs 14:33, because thus it corresponds with the parallelism; cf. לב צדּיק, Proverbs 15:28, and לב חכם, Proverbs 16:23, where the adject. interpretation is excluded. The gaining of wisdom is, after Proverbs 17:16, referred to the heart: a heart vigorous in embracing and receiving it is above all necessary, and just such an one possesses the נבון, which knows how to value the worth and usefulness of such knowledge. The wise, who are already in possession of such knowledge, are yet at the same time constantly striving to increase this knowledge: their ear seeks knowledge, eagerly asking where it is to be found, and attentively listening when the opportunity is given of מצא, obtaining it.
*More commentary available at chapter level.