Proverbs 10:23
New International Version
A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

New Living Translation
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

English Standard Version
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Berean Standard Bible
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

King James Bible
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

New King James Version
To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.

New American Standard Bible
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.

NASB 1995
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

NASB 1977
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

Legacy Standard Bible
Doing wickedness is like laughing to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of discernment.

Amplified Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a person of understanding.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

American Standard Version
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A moron, in making merry, does evil, and a man has wisdom by his reasoning.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.

Contemporary English Version
Fools enjoy doing wrong, but anyone with good sense enjoys acting wisely.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man.

English Revised Version
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness: and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Like the laughter of a fool when he carries out an evil plan, so is wisdom to a person who has understanding.

Good News Translation
It is foolish to enjoy doing wrong. Intelligent people take pleasure in wisdom.

International Standard Version
Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy, so is wisdom to the discerning man.

JPS Tanakh 1917
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness, And so is wisdom to a man of discernment.

Literal Standard Version
To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, | And wisdom to a man of understanding.

Majority Standard Bible
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

New American Bible
Crime is the entertainment of the fool; but wisdom is for the person of understanding.

NET Bible
Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

New Revised Standard Version
Doing wrong is like sport to a fool, but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.

New Heart English Bible
It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.

Webster's Bible Translation
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

World English Bible
It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

Young's Literal Translation
To execute inventions is as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son
22The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. 23The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom. 24What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.…

Cross References
Proverbs 2:14
from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,

Proverbs 15:21
Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.


Treasury of Scripture

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding has wisdom.

Proverbs 14:9
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Proverbs 15:21
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Proverbs 26:18,19
As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, …

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Conduct Delight Delights Discernment Evil Execute Finds Fool Foolish Fool's Good Inventions Mischief Play Pleasure Sense Sport Understanding Wickedness Wisdom Wise Wrong
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Proverbs 10
1. Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices














(23) But a man of understanding hath wisdom.--Rather, But wisdom (is sport) to a man of understanding, i.e., one rejoices in mischief, the other (comp. Proverbs 8:30) in wise thoughts and deeds.

Verse 23. - As sport. The wicked make their pastime and amusement in doing evil. A man of understanding hath wisdom. As thus put, the sentence is jejune. The Revised Version expresses the meaning better: "And so is wisdom to a man of understanding;" i.e. the wise man finds his refreshment in living a wise and prudent life, which is as easy and as pleasant to him as mischief is to the vicious. The wisdom intended is practical religion, the fear of God directing and showing itself in daily action. Septuagint, "A fool doeth mischief in sport (ἐν γέλωτι), but wisdom produceth prudence for a man."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The fool
לִ֭כְסִיל (liḵ·sîl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

delights
כִּשְׂח֣וֹק (kiś·ḥō·wq)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7814: Laughter, derision, sport

in shameful
זִמָּ֑ה (zim·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2154: A plan, device, wickedness

conduct,
עֲשׂ֣וֹת (‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

but a man
לְאִ֣ישׁ (lə·’îš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of understanding
תְּבוּנָֽה׃ (tə·ḇū·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8394: Intelligence, an argument, caprice

has wisdom.
וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה (wə·ḥā·ḵə·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 10:23 It is a fool's pleasure to do (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 10:22
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