King James Version

Proverbs 10:23

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

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

כִּשְׂח֣וֹקkischoqas laughterשְׂחוֹקpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “as laughter”, the ordinary formH7814laughter (in merriment or defiance)derision, laughter(-ed to scorn, -ing), mocked, sport.לִ֭כְסִילlikhsilto foolכְּסִילpreposition, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “to fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).עֲשׂ֣וֹתasotdoעָשָׂהverb, qal, infinitive construct — “do”, the to-form of the verbH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…זִמָּ֑הzimahheinous crimeזִמָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “heinous crime”, the ordinary formH2154a plan, especially a bad oneheinous crime, lewd(-ly, -ness), mischief, purpose, thought, wicked (device, mind, -ness).וְ֝חָכְמָ֗הvechakhemahand wisdomחׇכְמָהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and wisdom”, the ordinary formH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.לְאִ֣ישׁleishto a certainאִישׁpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “to a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…תְּבוּנָֽהtevunahdiscretionתָּבוּןnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “discretion”, the ordinary formH8394intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, capricediscretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness, and so is wisdom to a man of discernment.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

It is as sport to a foolish [man] to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Douay-Rheims

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness, and so is wisdom to a man of discernment.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐν γέλωτι ἄφρων πράσσει κακὰ, ἡ δὲ σοφία ἀνδρὶ τίκτει φρόνησιν.