A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
Proverbs 15:21
In 11 translations
- BSB
- Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
- KJV
- Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.destitute…: Heb. void of heart
- WEB
- Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
- ASV
- Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
- LSV
- Folly is joy to one lacking heart, || And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.
- YLT
- Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.
- DBY
- Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.
- DRC
- Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.
- GNV
- Foolishnes is ioy to him that is destitute of vnderstanding: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.
- JPS
- Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.
- LXXE
- The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
Word by word Hebrew · tap a word
Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.
Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (1)
- Aleppo Codex and Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and Ben Chaim’s Second Rabbinic Bible reads יְיַשֶּׁר־; Leningrad Codex reads יְיַשֶׁר־ (“he makes straight”).
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- WLC
- אִ֭וֶּלֶת שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַחֲסַר־לֵ֑ב וְאִ֥ישׁ תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה יְיַשֶׁר־לָֽכֶת׃
- LXX-Br
- Ἀνοήτου τρίβοι ἐνδεεῖς φρενῶν, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος κατευθύνων πορεύεται.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Ephesians 5:15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
- Proverbs 10:23The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
- Proverbs 14:16A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
- Psalms 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Proverbs 14:9Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
- Proverbs 26:18–19Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
- James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- Proverbs 11:12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
- Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).