Proverbs 19:10

Proverbs 19:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
• New International Version (NIV)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

Context of Proverbs 19:10

8He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success. 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! 11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. 12A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

Proverbs 19:10 word by word

לֹֽא־נָאוֶ֣ה לִכְסִ֣יל תַּעֲנ֑וּג אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־לְעֶ֤בֶד׀ מְשֹׁ֬ל בְּשָׂרִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• Luxuryתַּעֲנוּגta‛ănûg ta‛ănûg ta‛ănûgâh · luxuryH8588
• is unseemlyלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• is unseemlyנָאוֶהnâ'veh · lovelyH5000
• for a foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• how much worseאַף'aph · alsoH637
• how much worseכִּיkîy · forH3588
• for a slaveעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• to ruleמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• over princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269

Cross-references for Proverbs 19:10

• Proverbs 30:21Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
• 1 Samuel 25:36When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
• Esther 3:15The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.
• Isaiah 5:11Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.
• Isaiah 22:12On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.
• Hosea 7:3They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.
• Hosea 9:1Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.
• Amos 6:3You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence.
• Luke 16:19Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
• James 4:9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
• 2 Samuel 3:24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
• Ecclesiastes 10:5There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
• Isaiah 3:5The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.

Commentaries on Proverbs 19:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Delight is not seemly for a fool - תענוג taanug, splendid or luxurious living, rank, equipage, etc. These sit ill on a fool, though he be by birth a lord. For a servant to have rule over princes - I pity the king who delivers himself into the hands of his own ministers. Such a one loses his character, and cannnot be respected by his subjects, or rather their subjects. But it is still worse when a person of mean extraction is raised to the throne, or to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10“Delight,” high unrestrained enjoyment, is to the “fool” who lacks wisdom but a temptation and a snare. The second clause carries the thought on to what the despotism of Eastern monarchies often presented, the objectionable rule of some favored slave, it might be, of alien birth, over the princes and nobles of the land.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10Verse 10 A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. (Compare Pr 17:7). The fool is incapable of properly using pleasure as knowledge, yet for him to have it is less incongruous than the undue elevation of servants. Let each abide in his calling (1Co 7:20).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 19:10

• Citizens
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Judgment
• Pity
• Scorner
• Slothfulness
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings