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Proverbs 14:6
A scorner seeketh wisdom, andfindeth it not: but knowledgeis easy unto him that understandeth.

Proverbs 15:14
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise man's eyesare in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

the eyes

Proverbs 23:5
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? forriches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Psalm 119:37
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;and quicken thou me in thy way.

Ecclesiastes 6:9
Betteris the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: thisis also vanity and vexation of spirit.

but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth
This part of the verse contrasts the fool with the discerning person. The fool's eyes "wander," indicating a lack of focus and purpose. In biblical literature, the fool is often characterized by a rejection of wisdom and a propensity for folly (Proverbs 1:7). The phrase "to the ends of the earth" suggests a restless pursuit of worldly pleasures and distractions, reminiscent of the Prodigal Son's journey to a distant country (Luke 15:13). This wandering can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual aimlessness, where the fool seeks fulfillment in transient things rather than in the eternal truths of God. The imagery of wandering eyes also recalls the temptation of Eve inGenesis 3:6, where the desire for what is seen leads to sin. This serves as a warning against the dangers of being led astray by superficial attractions, urging a return to the pursuit of divine wisdom.

“Wisdom is the focus of the discerning” (Proverbs 17:24).

The verse opens by spotlighting what fills the center of a discerning person’s attention.

• Focus implies deliberate concentration—likeProverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead,” urging single-minded pursuit of what is true.

• Wisdom here is not abstract philosophy; it is the God-given skill for living in obedience (Proverbs 9:10;James 1:5).

• A discerning person chooses the right starting point—God’s revealed truth—rather than chasing every passing idea (Psalm 119:105).

Cross-reference insight: Solomon repeats this principle inProverbs 15:14, “The discerning heart seeks knowledge,” showing that genuine insight is proactive, not passive.

The text singles out “the discerning,” stressing the difference between mere intelligence and spiritual perception.

• Discernment involves recognizing God’s way in day-to-day choices (Hebrews 5:14).

• It is nurtured by listening to instruction (Proverbs 19:20) and by fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).

• Such a person measures every decision against Scripture’s plumb line, echoingPsalm 1:2: “his delight is in the law of the LORD.”

Because discernment is anchored in revealed truth, the discerning believer is steady when culture shifts (Ephesians 4:14).

By contrast, “the eyes of a fool” highlights an inner disposition that shows up outwardly.

• The fool, in biblical terms, rejects God’s wisdom (Psalm 14:1).

• His eyes represent appetite and curiosity divorced from God’s counsel (Ecclesiastes 2:10).

• Instead of filtering options through Scripture, he lets impulse steer him—mirroringProverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.”

This isn’t an intellectual deficit; it’s a moral refusal to submit to God’s authority.

The phrase paints restlessness—never arriving at truth, always looking elsewhere.

• “Wander” suggests a drifting heart (Jeremiah 14:10) that resists staying within God’s boundaries.

• “To the ends of the earth” implies endless searching yet never finding, much like2 Timothy 3:7, “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

• The fool’s scattered attention contrasts sharply with Jesus’ call to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

The irony: the treasure of wisdom is nearby—found in God’s Word—yet the fool scours the horizon for something better, echoingProverbs 14:6, “A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none.”

Proverbs 17:24 draws a straight line between focus and outcome. The discerning fix their gaze on God’s wisdom and walk securely; the fool’s roaming eyes betray a heart unwilling to submit, leaving him perpetually empty-handed. The verse calls us to settle our eyes on the Lord’s truth, confident that everything needed for life and godliness is already set before us (2 Peter 1:3).

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.)