King James Version

Proverbs 15:21

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

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Hebrew

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אִ֭וֶּלֶתiveletfollyאִוֶּלֶתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “folly”, the ordinary formH200sillinessfolly, foolishly(-ness).שִׂמְחָ֣הsimchahgladnessשִׂמְחָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “gladness”, the ordinary formH8057blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)[idiom] exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing).לַחֲסַרlachasarto destituteחָסֵרpreposition, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “to destitute”, the ordinary formH2638lacking; hence, withoutdestitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.לֵ֑בlevcomfortablyלֵבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “comfortably”, the ordinary formH3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything[phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom]…וְאִ֥ישׁveishand a certainאִישׁconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and 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…תְּ֝בוּנָ֗הtevunahdiscretionתָּבוּןnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “discretion”, the ordinary formH8394intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, capricediscretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.יְיַשֶׁרyeyasherbe rightיָשַׁרverb, piel, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be right”, an unfinished actionH3474to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant, prosperousdirect, fit, seem good (meet), [phrase] please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright(-ly).לָֽכֶתlakhetcarryיָלַךְverb, qal, infinitive construct — “carry”, the to-form of the verbH3212to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)[idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue,…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.

Young’s Literal Translation

Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.

World English Bible

Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

Darby Translation

Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.

Douay-Rheims

Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀνοήτου τρίβοι ἐνδεεῖς φρενῶν, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος κατευθύνων πορεύεται.