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New Living Translation
Proverbs 10:23
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Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
It is as a pastime to a foole to doe wickedly: but wisedome is vnderstanding to 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.
Fools enjoy doing wrong, but the wise enjoy wisdom.
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.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
Fools enjoy doing wrong, but anyone with good sense enjoys acting wisely.
To a fool, vileness is like a game, as is wisdom to a person of discernment.
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.
A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for 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.
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.
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.
To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.
Doing wrong is like play to a fool, but a man of understanding has 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 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.
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
A foole doth wickedly, and maketh but a sport of it: but wisdome ruleth the man that hath vnderstandyng.
Doing wrong is like sport to a fool, but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.
It is as sport to a foolish [man] to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
A fool worchith wickidnesse as bi leiyyng; but `wisdom is prudence to a man.
To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.
It is like sport to a fool to do wrong, but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.
[It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.
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 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 once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
along with all the foreigners living in that land. I also gave it to all the kings of the land of Uz and the kings of the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and what remains 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!"
