Proverbs 10:23

[It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief,.... To do any injury to the persons and properties of men; which shows a most wicked and malicious spirit, a very depraved nature indeed: or rather "to

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

As sport; he doth it with ease and delight, and without any shame, or remorse, or fear. To do mischief or, as others, to work wickedness; yea, great and premeditated wickedness, as the Hebrew word properly signifies. Hath wisdom; whereby he is kept from committing wickedness, and especially from sporting himself with it. But this clause is by divers learned interpreters rendered thus, and or so is wisdom to a man of understanding, it is a sport or pleasure to him to practise wisdom or piety; which translation makes the opposition more evident.

Proverbs 10:23 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.Ver. 23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief.] He is then merriest when he hath the devil for his playfellow. He danceth to hell in his bolts, and as passing well apaid for his woeful bondage. Was he a father or a monster, think you, that, playing with his own child for a pastime, put his thumbs in the boy’ s eyes, and thrust out the balls thereof This was Robert de Beliasme, Earl of Shrewsbury, in the reign of our Henry I, A.D. 1111. And what a mad sport was that of Joab and Abner, to see and set those youngsters of Helkath Hazzurim to sheath their swords in their fellows’ bowels! And that of Nero, who set the city of Rome on fire for his pleasure, while he played on his harp, the destruction of Troy! But a man of understanding hath wisdom.] Viz., For his sport or delight. It is his meat and drink - his honey and honeycomb, &c. Libenter omnibus omnes opes concesserim, ut mihi liceat, vi nulla interpellante, isto modo in literis vivero, saith Cicero, - I would give all the wealth in the world that I might live altogether in my study, and have nothing to trouble me. Crede mihi extingui dulce esset mathematicarum artium studio, saith another; Believe me, it were a dainty death to die studying the mathematics. Nusqam requiem inveni nisi in libro et claustro, saith a third; All the comfort I have is in a book, and a cloister, or closet. Mentior, if my soul accord him not, salth learned Doctor Slatter. The old Lord Burley, lord high treasurer, to his dying day would carry always a "Cicero’ s Offices" about him, either in his bosom or pocket. And the Emperor Charles V took such delight in the mathematics, that even in the midst of his whole army, in his tent, he sat close at his study, having for that purpose as his instructor Turrianus of Cremona evermore with him; so sweet is the knowledge of human arts to those that have tasted them. How much more the knowledge of the holy - which, saith Augur, is to ascend up into heaven - to those mature ones who, "by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil!" Speed. Lib. ix. epist. Leo. Digges. Slatt. on 1 Ep. to Thessal., Epist. Dedic. Peach. Comp. Gentle. Idem, in his Valley of Vanity, p. 116.

(23) But a man of understanding hath wisdom.—Rather, But wisdom (is sport) to a man of understanding, i.e., one rejoices in mischief, the other (comp. Proverbs 8:30) in wise thoughts and deeds.

Verse 23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief] What a millstone weight of iniquity hangs about the necks of most of the jesters, facetious and witty people! "How many lies do they tell in jest, to go to the devil in earnest!"

23. hath wisdom] Rather, And so is wisdom (a sport or pastime) to a man of understanding. She imparts to him her own joy, or exultation. Comp. Proverbs 8:30, where the Heb. word is the same. See John 15:11.

As the fool finds his sport in doing mischief, so the man of understanding finds in wisdom his truest refreshment and delight.

23. It is as sport — Better, It is sport. Mischief — Not strong enough. It denotes wickedness or crime. The Septuagint renders the latter clause of the verse, “But wisdom brings prudence to a man.”