Proverbs 15:21

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 10:23 : 23 Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.
  • Eph 5:15 : 15 Live Wisely Therefore consider carefully how you live– not as unwise but as wise,
  • Jas 3:13 : 13 True Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
  • Job 28:28 : 28 And he said to mankind,‘The fear of the LORD– that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
  • Ps 111:10 : 10 To obey the LORD is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.
  • Prov 11:12 : 12 The one who denounces his neighbor lacks sense, but a discerning person keeps silent.
  • Prov 14:9 : 9 Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor.
  • Prov 14:16 : 16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.
  • Prov 26:18-19 : 18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, 19 so is a person who has deceived his neighbor, and said,“Was I not only joking?”

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Prov 15:20
    83%

    20A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.

  • Prov 14:6-9
    4 verses
    83%

    6The scorner sought wisdom–there was none, but understanding was easy for a discerning person.

    7Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel.

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

    9Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor.

  • Prov 10:23
    82%

    23Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

  • Prov 12:15-16
    2 verses
    81%

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

    16A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor.

  • Prov 17:21
    80%

    21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

  • Prov 13:16
    80%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 16:22
    80%

    22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

  • Prov 18:2
    80%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Prov 13:20
    79%

    20The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

  • Prov 14:33
    79%

    33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.

  • Eccl 10:3
    78%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Prov 17:24-25
    2 verses
    78%

    24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

    25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

  • Prov 15:14
    78%

    14The discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

  • Prov 19:1-3
    3 verses
    78%

    1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

    2It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

    3A person’s folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • Prov 14:15-18
    4 verses
    78%

    15A naive person will believe anything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps.

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

    17A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated.

    18The naive have inherited folly, but the shrewd will be crowned with knowledge.

  • Prov 14:24
    78%

    24The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

  • Prov 15:5
    78%

    5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.

  • Prov 21:20
    77%

    20There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.

  • Prov 21:16
    76%

    16The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed.

  • Eccl 2:14
    76%

    14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

  • Eccl 10:15
    76%

    15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

  • Prov 10:8-9
    2 verses
    76%

    8The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

    9The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.

  • Prov 3:13
    76%

    13Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.

  • Prov 15:22
    76%

    22Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with abundant advisers they are established.

  • Prov 12:23
    76%

    23The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly.

  • Eccl 7:4
    76%

    4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

  • Prov 10:1
    75%

    1The First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.

  • Prov 10:14
    75%

    14Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

  • Prov 17:16
    75%

    16What’s the point of a fool having money in hand to buy wisdom, when his head is empty?

  • Eccl 7:6
    75%

    6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.

  • Prov 22:15
    75%

    15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

  • Prov 19:10
    75%

    10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

  • Prov 14:3
    75%

    3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

  • Eccl 6:8
    75%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

  • Prov 5:23
    75%

    23He will die because there was no discipline; because of the greatness of his folly he will reel.

  • Prov 11:29
    75%

    29The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.

  • Prov 1:32
    75%

    32For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.

  • Prov 26:5
    75%

    5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion.

  • Prov 24:7
    74%

    7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.