Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
Parallel translations
- WEB Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
- KJV Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
- BSB Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
- NKJV Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
- NASB Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense, But a person of understanding walks straight.
- NLT Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
The senseless person delights in folly, but the discerning walk a straight, purposeful path. It matters because what we take pleasure in reveals our wisdom or lack of it.
Overview
The proverb exposes how folly is actually enjoyable to those without sense, while the understanding person keeps a straight course. Sin is often pleasant to the foolish heart, which is precisely its danger. True wisdom finds its joy instead in walking uprightly, a path ultimately fulfilled in following Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Eph 5:15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
- Prov 10:23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
- Prov 14:16A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
- Job 28:28To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”
- Ps 111:10The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Jas 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
- Prov 26:18–19Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
- Prov 11:12One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
- Prov 14:9Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 15:21 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.