Proverbs 10:23

Proverbs 10:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
• New International Version (NIV)A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
• New King James Version (NKJV)To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.

Context of Proverbs 10:23

21The lips of a righteous person feed many, but stubborn fools die because they have no sense. 22It is the Lord’s blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it. Like the laughter of a fool when he carries out an evil plan, so is wisdom to a person who has understanding. 24That which wicked people dread happens to them, but ⌞the Lord⌟ grants the desire of righteous people. 25When the storm has passed, the wicked person has vanished, but the righteous person has an everlasting foundation.

Proverbs 10:23 word by word

כִּשְׂח֣וֹק לִ֭כְסִיל עֲשׂ֣וֹת זִמָּ֑ה וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• as sportשְׂחֹקώechôq ώechôq · laughterH7814
• to a foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• mischiefזִמָּהzimmâh zammâh · wickednessH2154
• but a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of understandingתְּבוּנָהtâbûn tebûnâh tôbûnâh · understandingH8394
• hath wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451

Cross-references for Proverbs 10:23

• Proverbs 14:9Stubborn fools make fun of guilt, but there is forgiveness among decent people.
• Proverbs 15:21Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.
• Proverbs 26:18Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
• Ecclesiastes 11:9You young people should enjoy yourselves while you’re young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you’re young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone.

Commentaries on Proverbs 10:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23It 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!"Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23As the fool finds his sport in doing mischief, so the man of understanding finds in wisdom his truest refreshment and delight.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Sin is the pleasure of the wicked; wisdom that of the good.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 10:23

• Fool
• Sin
• Wicked (People)
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Famish
• Glad
• Harvest
• Poetry
• Refuse
• Rod
• Surely
• Uprightly
• Fool; Folly
• God

Commentaries on Proverbs 10

• 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