Proverbs 10:23

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּשְׂח֣וֹק לִ֭כְסִיל עֲשׂ֣וֹת זִמָּ֑ה וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃

Transliteration

kiśḥôq li-kəsîl ʿăśôt zimmāh wə-ḥokmāh lə-ʾîš təbûnāh

Grammar Details

*kiśḥôq*: preposition + masculine singular noun - as sport/pleasure
*li-kəsîl*: preposition + masculine singular noun - for fool
*ʿăśôt*: Qal infinitive construct - to do/commit
*zimmāh*: feminine singular noun - wickedness/lewdness
*wə-ḥokmāh*: conjunction + feminine singular noun - and wisdom
*lə-ʾîš*: preposition + masculine singular construct - for man of
*təbûnāh*: feminine singular noun - understanding

Word Meanings

*śḥôq*: sport/pleasure/laughter/amusement
*kəsîl*: fool/stupid person/simpleton
*ʿăśôt*: to do/commit/perform
*zimmāh*: wickedness/lewdness/evil plan
*ḥokmāh*: wisdom/skill/intelligence
*ʾîš*: man/person/husband
*təbûnāh*: understanding/discernment/intelligence

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 15:21 : 21 Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Prov 2:14 : 14 Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;
Prov 14:9 : 9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
Prov 26:18-19 : 18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
Eccl 11:9 : 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 15:21
82%
21Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Prov 14:6-9
4 verses
78%
6A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
Prov 13:16
77%
16Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
Prov 14:33
77%
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
Prov 18:2
77%
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
Eccl 10:12-15
4 verses
76%
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Prov 16:22
76%
22Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly.
Prov 15:14
76%
14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
Prov 19:3
76%
3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
Prov 12:23
76%
23A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Prov 17:24-25
2 verses
76%
24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Prov 19:10
76%
10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Prov 14:16-17
2 verses
76%
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
Eccl 7:4-6
3 verses
76%
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Prov 29:11
76%
11A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
Eccl 10:2-3
2 verses
75%
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Prov 14:24
75%
24The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
Prov 10:13-14
2 verses
75%
13In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
Prov 12:15
75%
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
Prov 26:19
75%
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
Prov 20:3
74%
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
Prov 21:20
74%
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Prov 29:9
74%
9If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
Prov 17:16
74%
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Prov 10:24
74%
24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
Prov 17:21
73%
21He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
Prov 10:10
73%
10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.
Prov 11:29
73%
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Prov 10:8
73%
8The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
Prov 24:7
73%
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Prov 14:29
73%
29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Prov 13:19-20
2 verses
73%
19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
Prov 24:9
73%
9The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
Eccl 2:26
73%
26For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Prov 26:10
73%
10[As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
Prov 26:5
73%
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Prov 14:3
73%
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.