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Thursday, June 5th, 2025
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Proverbs 15:21
The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- CharlesEncyclopedias:
- TheDevotionals:
- Today'sParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,but a person with understanding walks a straight path.
Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,but a person with understanding walks a straight path.
Hebrew Names Version
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
King James Version
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
English Standard Version
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
New American Standard Bible
Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense, But a person of understanding walks straight.
Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense, But a person of understanding walks straight.
New Century Version
A person without wisdom enjoys being foolish, but someone with understanding does what is right.
A person without wisdom enjoys being foolish, but someone with understanding does what is right.
Amplified Bible
Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense, But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight].
Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense, But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight].
World English Bible
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Foolishnes is ioy to him that is destitute of vnderstanding: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
Foolishnes is ioy to him that is destitute of vnderstanding: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
Legacy Standard Bible
Folly is gladness to him who lacks a heart of wisdom,But a man of discernment walks straight.
Folly is gladness to him who lacks a heart of wisdom,But a man of discernment walks straight.
Berean Standard Bible
Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
Contemporary English Version
Stupidity brings happiness to senseless fools, but everyone with good sense follows the straight path.
Stupidity brings happiness to senseless fools, but everyone with good sense follows the straight path.
Complete Jewish Bible
Folly appeals to one who lacks sense, but a person of discernment goes straight ahead.
Folly appeals to one who lacks sense, but a person of discernment goes straight ahead.
Darby Translation
Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.
Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.
Easy-to-Read Version
Doing foolish things makes a fool happy, but a wise person is careful to do what is right.
Doing foolish things makes a fool happy, but a wise person is careful to do what is right.
George Lamsa Translation
A foolish man lacks understanding; but a man of understanding walks uprightly.
A foolish man lacks understanding; but a man of understanding walks uprightly.
Good News Translation
Stupid people are happy with their foolishness, but the wise will do what is right.
Stupid people are happy with their foolishness, but the wise will do what is right.
Lexham English Bible
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, and a person of understanding will walk upright.
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, and a person of understanding will walk upright.
Literal Translation
Foolishness is joy to him who lacks understanding, but a man of understanding directs his going.
Foolishness is joy to him who lacks understanding, but a man of understanding directs his going.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
A foole reioyseth in foolish thinges, but a wyse man loketh well to his owne goinges.
A foole reioyseth in foolish thinges, but a wyse man loketh well to his owne goinges.
American Standard Version
Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Bible in Basic English
Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.
Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.
King James Version (1611)
Folly is ioy to him that is destitute of wisedome: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
Folly is ioy to him that is destitute of wisedome: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Foolishnesse is ioy to him that is destitute of knowledge: but a man of vnderstandyng walketh vprightly.
Foolishnesse is ioy to him that is destitute of knowledge: but a man of vnderstandyng walketh vprightly.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
English Revised Version
Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom: but a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom: but a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.
Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.
Update Bible Version
Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding makes straight his going.
Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding makes straight his going.
Webster's Bible Translation
Folly [is] joy to [him that is] destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Folly [is] joy to [him that is] destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
New English Translation
Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.
Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.
New King James Version
Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
New Living Translation
Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
New Life Bible
A foolish way is joy to him who has no wisdom, but a man of understanding walks straight.
A foolish way is joy to him who has no wisdom, but a man of understanding walks straight.
New Revised Standard
Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.
Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Folly, is joy to him that lacketh sense, - but, a man of understanding, taketh a straight course.
Folly, is joy to him that lacketh sense, - but, a man of understanding, taketh a straight course.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.
Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.
Revised Standard Version
Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, but a man of understanding walks aright.
Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, but a man of understanding walks aright.
Young's Literal Translation
Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.
Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.
Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.
Contextual Overview
21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
joy: Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 14:9, Proverbs 26:18, Proverbs 26:19
destitute of wisdom: Heb. void of heart, Proverbs 11:12, *marg.
a man: Proverbs 14:16, Job 28:28, Psalms 111:10, Ephesians 5:15, James 3:13
Reciprocal: Proverbs 15:32 - getteth understanding
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 7:1
When God , your God, brings you into the country that you are about to enter and take over, he will clear out the superpowers that were there before you: the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Those seven nations are all bigger and stronger than you are. God , your God, will turn them over to you and you will conquer them. You must completely destroy them, offering them up as a holy destruction to God . Don't make a treaty with them. Don't let them off in any way.
When God , your God, brings you into the country that you are about to enter and take over, he will clear out the superpowers that were there before you: the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Those seven nations are all bigger and stronger than you are. God , your God, will turn them over to you and you will conquer them. You must completely destroy them, offering them up as a holy destruction to God . Don't make a treaty with them. Don't let them off in any way.
Matthew 8:28
They landed in the country of the Gadarenes and were met by two madmen, victims of demons, coming out of the cemetery. The men had terrorized the region for so long that no one considered it safe to walk down that stretch of road anymore. Seeing Jesus, the madmen screamed out, "What business do you have giving us a hard time? You're the Son of God! You weren't supposed to show up here yet!" Off in the distance a herd of pigs was browsing and rooting. The evil spirits begged Jesus, "If you kick us out of these men, let us live in the pigs."
They landed in the country of the Gadarenes and were met by two madmen, victims of demons, coming out of the cemetery. The men had terrorized the region for so long that no one considered it safe to walk down that stretch of road anymore. Seeing Jesus, the madmen screamed out, "What business do you have giving us a hard time? You're the Son of God! You weren't supposed to show up here yet!" Off in the distance a herd of pigs was browsing and rooting. The evil spirits begged Jesus, "If you kick us out of these men, let us live in the pigs."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Folly [is] joy to [him that is] destitute of wisdom,.... Or "that wants a heart" q, a wise and understanding one; by "folly" is meant sin, for all sin is folly; and that is very pleasing and joyous to a wicked he chooses it and delights in it; instead of being ashamed of it, and sorry for it, he glories in it, and makes his boast of it; and not only takes pleasure in committing it himself, but also in those that do it; see Proverbs 10:23;
but a man of understanding walketh uprightly; he who has his understanding enlightened by the Spirit of God; who has an understanding given him by the Son of God; who has a spiritual and experimental understanding of the Gospel, and the truths of it: he walks according to the rule of the divine word; he walks as he has Christ for an example, and by faith on him; and after the spirit, and not after the flesh: or "directs himself in walking" r, his goings, as the Vulgate Latin version, according to the above rule, example, and guidance, by the assistance of the spirit and grace of God; otherwise it is not in man that walketh of himself to direct his steps,
Jeremiah 10:23.
q לחסר לב "carenti corde", Montanus; "ei qui deficitur", Schultens. r יישר לכת "diriget seipsum ambulando", Montanus; "diriget ambulare, vel ad ambulandum", Vatablus; "diriget viam suam ad ambulandum", Mercerus, Gejerus.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
i. e., The empty-hearted, rejoicing in folly, goes the wrong way; the man of understanding, rejoicing in wisdom, goes the right way.
