Proverbs 10 · Verse 23

Proverbs 10:23

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Proverbs 10:23, King James Version

Proverbs 10:23 in other translations

BSBThe fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
WEBIt is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
ASVIt is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
YLTTo execute inventions is as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
DARBYIt is as sport to a foolish man to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
BBEIt is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.
WebsterIt is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

What does Proverbs 10:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. Sin is the pleasure of the wicked; wisdom that of the good.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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!"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 10:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּשְׂח֣וֹקkis.Chok[is] like sportH7814
לִ֭כְסִילLikh.silfor a foolH3684
עֲשׂ֣וֹתa.Sotto doH6213
זִמָּ֑הzi.MahwickednessH2154
וְ֝חָכְמָ֗הve.cha.khe.Mahand wisdomH2451
לְאִ֣ישׁle.'Ishfor a person ofH376
תְּבוּנָֽה\׃te.vu.NahunderstandingH8394

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 10:23

  • Proverbs 15:21

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

  • Proverbs 14:9

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

  • Proverbs 2:14

    Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

  • Proverbs 26:18-19

    As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

  • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
14:9; 15:21; 26:18,19; Ec 11:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 10:22

    The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

  • Proverbs 10:23

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

  • Proverbs 10:24

    The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

Read all of Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hacer abominación es como risa al insensato: mas el hombre entendido sabe.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est comme une plaisanterie pour le sot que de commettre un crime, mais la sagesse est pour l’homme intelligent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dem Toren ist es wie ein Spiel, Schandtat zu verüben, und Weisheit zu üben dem verständigen Manne.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quasi per risum stultus operatur scelus, sapientia autem est viro prudentia.