Proverbs 19 · Verse 10

Proverbs 19:10

Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Proverbs 19:10, King James Version

Proverbs 19:10 in other translations

BSBLuxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
WEBDelicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
ASVDelicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
YLTLuxury is not comely for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
DARBYGood living beseemeth not a fool; how much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
BBEMaterial comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
WebsterDelight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

What does Proverbs 19:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. (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).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Delight 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 any place of power; he is generally cruel and tyrannical.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 19:10 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.

לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
נָאוֶ֣הna.Veh[is] suitableH5000
לִכְסִ֣ילlikh.Silfor a foolH3684
תַּעֲנ֑וּגta.'a.NugluxuryH8588
אַ֝֗ף'Afindeed?H637
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
לְעֶ֤בֶד\׀le.'E.vedfor a slaveH5650
מְשֹׁ֬לme.Sholto ruleH4910
בְּשָׂרִֽים\׃be.sa.Rimover princesH8269

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

Cross references for Proverbs 19:10

  • Proverbs 30:21-22

    For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

  • Proverbs 26:1

    As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

  • Luke 16:19

    There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

  • Luke 16:23

    And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

  • James 4:9

    Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

  • 2 Samuel 3:24-25

    Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

  • 2 Samuel 3:39

    And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

  • Amos 6:3-6

    Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:5-7

    There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

  • 1 Samuel 25:36

    And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

  • Hosea 9:1

    Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

  • Esther 3:15

    The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Delight.
30:21,22; 1Sa 25:36; Es 3:15; Isa 5:11,12; 22:12-14; Ho 7:3-5; 9:1
Am 6:3-6; Lu 16:19,23; Jas 4:9
much.
2Sa 3:24,25,39; Ec 10:5-7; Isa 3:5

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

Context

  • Proverbs 19:9

    A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

  • Proverbs 19:10

    Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

  • Proverbs 19:11

    The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

Read all of Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
No conviene al necio el deleite: ¡cuánto menos al siervo ser señor de los príncipes!
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Une vie de délices ne sied pas à un sot; combien moins sied-il à un serviteur de gouverner des princes!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Nicht geziemt einem Toren Wohlleben; wieviel weniger einem Knechte, über Fürsten zu herrschen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Non decent stultum deliciæ, nec servum dominari principibus.