the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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New King James Version
Proverbs 10:23
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.
A foolish person enjoys doing wrong, but a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.
Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.
[It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.
Engaging in evil is like sport to the fool [who refuses wisdom and chases sin], But to a man of understanding [skillful and godly] wisdom brings joy.
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
A fool worchith wickidnesse as bi leiyyng; but `wisdom is prudence to a man.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness: and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Fools enjoy doing wrong, but anyone with good sense enjoys acting wisely.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.
To a fool, vileness is like a game, as is wisdom to a person of discernment.
It is as sport to a foolish [man] to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Fools enjoy doing wrong, but the wise enjoy wisdom.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness, and so is wisdom to a man of discernment.
It is as a sport to a foole to doe mischiefe: but a man of vnderstanding hath wisedome.
Doing wrong is like play to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Doing wrong is like sport to a fool, but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.
It is as a pastime to a foole to doe wickedly: but wisedome is vnderstanding to a man.
It is sport to a fool to do mischief; but a man of understanding has wisdom.
It is foolish to enjoy doing wrong. Intelligent people take pleasure in wisdom.
It is, mere sport to a stupid man, to commit lewdness, but, wisdom, pertaineth to a man of understanding.
A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man.
It is like sport to a fool to do wrong, but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding.
A foole doth wickedly, and maketh but a sport of it: but wisdome ruleth the man that hath vnderstandyng.
A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.
As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,so wisdom is for a person of understanding.
It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
It is like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.
To work out evil devices is as laughter to the foolish; so wisdom is to a man of understanding.
To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
A foole doth wickedly & maketh but a sporte of it: neuertheles it is wysdome for a man to bewarre of soch.
An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
Doing wickedness is like laughing to a fool,And so is wisdom to a man of discernment.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Proverbs 14:9, Proverbs 15:21, Proverbs 26:18, Proverbs 26:19, Ecclesiastes 11:9
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 2:14 - play before Proverbs 2:14 - rejoice Jeremiah 11:15 - thou doest evil
Cross-References
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
all the mixed multitude, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (namely, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod);
Gill's Notes on the Bible
[It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief,.... To do any injury to the persons and properties of men; which shows a most wicked and malicious spirit, a very depraved nature indeed: or rather "to commit sin" o of any sort, which he has devised in his own heart; it is as a "laughing" p, as the words may be rendered; it is a laughing matter to him, he commits sin, and, when he has done it, laughs at it; instead of being ashamed of it, and humbled for it, he makes a mock at it, and a jest of it, as well as of all religion, and of the reproofs and admonitions of good men. Sin is pastime, he takes as much delight and pleasure in it as men do in their sports, and commits it as openly and freely; yea, not only takes pleasure in doing it himself, but in them that do it; see Proverbs 14:9;
but a man of understanding hath wisdom; to avoid sin, and not to do it, which is true wisdom, Job 28:28; for he has, as it may be rendered, from the use of the word in the Arabic language q, a "bridle" or "restraint" upon him, that he cannot do mischief and delight in it, as the fool does: or "so [is] wisdom to a man of understanding" r; that is, to do it; as it is a pleasure to a feel to commit sin, so it is a delight to an understanding man to do that which is wise and good; it is "meat and drink" to do the will of God, see John 4:34; he takes as much pleasure in it as men can do in their sports and pastimes; he has a truer pleasure and a better relish than they have; he delights in the law of God after the inward man; and Wisdom's ways, or the ways of Christ, are pleasantness to him; he runs the ways of his commandments with great alacrity and cheerfulness.
o עשות זמה "facere scelus", Montanus, Baynus, Junius Tremellius, Cocceius, Michaelis "perpetrare scelus", Piscator; "patrare facinus", Schultens. p כשחוק "veluti risus", Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis. q Vid. Schultens de Defect. Hod. Ling. Heb. s. 216. r So some in Gejerus.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
As the fool finds his sport in doing mischief, so the man of understanding finds in wisdom his truest refreshment and delight.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 10:23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief — What a millstone weight of iniquity hangs about the necks of most of the jesters, facetious and witty people! "How many lies do they tell in jest, to go to the devil in earnest!"
