Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
Parallel translations
- WEB Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
- KJV The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
- NKJV A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
- NASB Desire realized is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
- NLT It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Fulfilled desire is sweet, yet fools refuse to turn from evil even to gain it. Folly clings to sin against its own good.
Overview
The verse joins two thoughts: the genuine sweetness of longing satisfied, and the perversity of fools who will not forsake evil even though doing so would bring true satisfaction. It exposes the irrationality of sin, which prefers harm to the good it could have. Only a changed heart, given by grace, learns to delight in turning from evil (Ezekiel 36:26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 13:12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
- Rev 7:14–17“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- Prov 29:27An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.
- 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- Ps 34:14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
- Prov 16:6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
- Song 3:4I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
- Ps 21:1–2For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength. How greatly he exults in Your salvation!
- Prov 3:7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
- Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- 2 Tim 4:7–8I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 1 Kgs 1:48saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
- Ps 37:27Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 13:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.