The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Parallel translations
- WEB The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
- BSB A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
- NKJV The devising of foolishness is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
- NASB The devising of foolishness is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to humanity.
- NLT The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.
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
Foolish scheming is sin, and the mocker is detested by others.
Overview
Even the plans and devices of folly are sinful, not harmless, and the scoffer becomes repugnant to people. This ties folly directly to moral guilt rather than mere ignorance. The mocker, who scorns wisdom and correction, stands opposed to God, who gives grace to the humble but resists the proud (James 4:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- 2 Cor 10:5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
- Isa 55:7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Acts 8:22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
- Prov 24:8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
- Prov 29:8Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
- Matt 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- Gen 6:5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
- Jer 4:14O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
- Matt 9:4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
- Prov 22:10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
- Ps 119:113I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
- Prov 23:7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
- Gen 8:21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
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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 24:9 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
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