A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
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.
- BSB Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
- 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 when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
- Rev 7:14–17I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.
- Prov 29:27A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
- 2 Tim 2:19However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
- Ps 34:14Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- Prov 16:6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
- Song 3:4I had scarcely passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, into the room of her who conceived me.
- Ps 21:1–2For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
- Prov 3:7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
- Job 28:28To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”
- 2 Tim 4:7–8I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
- 1 Kgs 1:48Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’”
- Ps 37:27Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely 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.