PROV 15:21 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἀνοήτου τρίβοι ἐνδεεῖς φρενῶν, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος κατευθύνων πορεύεται.
(Anoaʸtou triboi endeʼeis frenōn, anaʸr de fronimos kateuthunōn poreuetai. )

BrTr The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.

ULT Folly is a joy to the lacking of heart,
⇔ but the man of understanding makes to go straight.

UST People who are not wise enjoy acting foolishly,
⇔ but understanding people do what is right.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,
⇔ but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

WMBB (Same as above)

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

LSV Folly is joy to one lacking heart,
And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.

FBV Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.

T4T ⇔ Foolish people are happy to continually act foolishly;
⇔ those who have good sense do what is right.

LEB • Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense ,[fn] and a person of understanding will walk upright .[fn]

15:? Literally “heart”

15:? Literally “he will walk upright walking”

BBE Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.

Moff Folly is a delight to senseless men,
⇔ but a man of sense leads a straightforward life.

JPS Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.

ASV Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom;
⇔ But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.

DRA Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.

YLT Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.

Drby Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.

RV Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom: but a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
(Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom: but a man of understanding maketh/makes straight his going. )

SLT Folly is joy to him wanting heart: and the man of understanding will make straight to go.

Wbstr Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

KJB-1769 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.[fn]

15.21 destitute…: Heb. void of heart

KJB-1611 [fn]Folly is ioy to him that is destitute of wisedome: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

15:21 Hebr. voyd of heart.

Bshps Foolishnesse is ioy to him that is destitute of knowledge: but a man of vnderstandyng walketh vprightly.
(Foolishness is joy to him that is destitute of knowledge: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.)

Gnva Foolishnes is ioy to him that is destitute of vnderstanding: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
(Foolishnes is joy to him that is destitute of understanding: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. )

Cvdl A foole reioyseth in foolish thinges, but a wyse man loketh well to his owne goinges.
(A fool rejoiceth/rejoices in foolish things, but a wise man looketh/looks well to his own goings.)

Wycl Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.
(Foli is joy to a fool; and a prudent man shall dress his steps.)

Luth Dem Toren ist die Torheit eine Freude; aber ein verständiger Mann bleibt auf dem rechten Wege.
(To_him goals is the folly a/one joy/pleasure/delight; but a more_reasonable man remains/stays on/in/to to_him right ways.)

ClVg Stultitia gaudium stulto, et vir prudens dirigit gressus suos.
(Stultitia joy stupid, and man prudent directs steps his_own. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

15:21

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^21a Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment,

^21bbut a man of understanding walks a straight path.

The parts in 15:21a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 15:21b. If this chiastic order is not natural in your language, you may need to reorder the parts in one of the lines. For example, 15:21a could be reordered as follows:

^21a A man who lacks judgment delights in folly

15:21a

Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment,

A person without good sense enjoys acting foolishly,
A person who lacks good thoughts is happy when he does what is foolish/stupid.

Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment: Doing things that are morally foolish is joy or causes happiness to a person who lacks judgment. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense (NLT)

If a person lacks good judgment, he will enjoy acting foolishly

Folly: See folly in the Glossary.

lacks judgment: This phrase refers to a person who lacks common sense and makes foolish decisions. See lacks judgment in the Glossary.

15:21b

but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

but an intelligent/sensible person keeps following the straight/right path.
As for someone who has good sense/understanding, he keeps on doing what is right.

but a man of understanding: This phrase contrasts precisely with the person in 15:21a who has no common sense. It refers to a person who has the good sense or competence to handle the situations that he faces in life. See understanding (good sense) in the Glossary.

walks a straight path: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “walks straight ahead.” This implies staying on the straight/right path. As elsewhere in Proverbs, the figurative meaning is to consistently do what is right.

When you translate this line, it is recommended that you keep the figure of speech of a straight/right path if possible. For example:

a sensible person stays on the right path (NLT)

However, in some languages, it may be more effective to translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

someone with understanding does what is right (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

אִ֭וֶּלֶת שִׂמְחָ֣ה & תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה

folly joy & understanding

See how you translated the abstract nouns Folly in [5:23](../05/23.md), joy in [10:28](../10/28.md), and understanding in [1:2](../01/02.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לַ⁠חֲסַר־לֵ֑ב וְ⁠אִ֥ישׁ תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה

to_[one],lacking sense and,a_person_of understanding

See how you translated the lacking of heart in [9:16](../09/16.md) and man of understanding in [10:23](../10/23.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

יְיַשֶׁר־לָֽכֶת

straight_ahead walks

Solomon is leaving out a word that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply this word from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “makes himself to go straight”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor