Sin: No Joke
“A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.”
The NIV translation of this verse makes me think of movie villains. The biggest, baddest villains in comic book movies and action films are the ones who seem to really be enjoying their nasty deeds. They like hurting people. They “find pleasure” in causing pain. It’s like they have no soul. They continue to relish their “evil conduct” until the hero stops them.
I like that way of looking at the verse, because I’m NOT a super villain. I don’t do “evil,” right? And if I do, I definitely do get it a kick out of it.
The English Standard Version offers pretty much the same translation of the Hebrew for this verse, but chooses different words. I don’t have any idea which is more precise, but the ESV take forced me to put myself back into the verse: “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”
Urgh. So it's not just about people who laugh maniacally as their victims suffer. How often have I passed off my own wrongdoing as a joke? (Or a kind of a game? See the NASB version.) No matter how you translate it, the idea is that one definition for fool is someone who finds a way to enjoy his sinful choices. Have I ever really enjoyed delivering a hurtful comment, a deception, an immoral thought? Guilty on all counts. At those moments, I was a fool -- a person wasting his life running in a worthless direction.
Notice the alternative:
“A man of understanding delights in wisdom.” (NIV)
“Wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” (ESV)
“Wisdom [is sport] to a man of understanding.” (NASB)
Again, I can’t tell you the absolute best translation of the verse, but do you get the idea? Wise people learn to truly enjoy wisdom. It’s not just an academic assignment for people of understanding. It’s not just work. It’s not just being “spiritual.” It’s fun! It’s play! It’s a good time.
Proverbs urges us to search out wisdom like buried treasure. Wise people enjoy the hunt. They get a rush out of discovering a new gem of understanding, a new jewel of discernment, a new golden principal they can install in their lives to keep them on the path toward a life that truly matters right now and forever.
Don’t get me wrong. Some sin feels really good in the moment. But as we gain the wisdom to understand the painful consequences of sinful choices, hard reality will steal the fun from that “evil conduct,” “wickedness,” and just plain “doing wrong.” We’ll make a new hobby out of doing wise that won’t get old in the long run.
—Proverbs 10:23
The NIV translation of this verse makes me think of movie villains. The biggest, baddest villains in comic book movies and action films are the ones who seem to really be enjoying their nasty deeds. They like hurting people. They “find pleasure” in causing pain. It’s like they have no soul. They continue to relish their “evil conduct” until the hero stops them.
I like that way of looking at the verse, because I’m NOT a super villain. I don’t do “evil,” right? And if I do, I definitely do get it a kick out of it.
The English Standard Version offers pretty much the same translation of the Hebrew for this verse, but chooses different words. I don’t have any idea which is more precise, but the ESV take forced me to put myself back into the verse: “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”
Urgh. So it's not just about people who laugh maniacally as their victims suffer. How often have I passed off my own wrongdoing as a joke? (Or a kind of a game? See the NASB version.) No matter how you translate it, the idea is that one definition for fool is someone who finds a way to enjoy his sinful choices. Have I ever really enjoyed delivering a hurtful comment, a deception, an immoral thought? Guilty on all counts. At those moments, I was a fool -- a person wasting his life running in a worthless direction.
Notice the alternative:
“A man of understanding delights in wisdom.” (NIV)
“Wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” (ESV)
“Wisdom [is sport] to a man of understanding.” (NASB)
Again, I can’t tell you the absolute best translation of the verse, but do you get the idea? Wise people learn to truly enjoy wisdom. It’s not just an academic assignment for people of understanding. It’s not just work. It’s not just being “spiritual.” It’s fun! It’s play! It’s a good time.
Proverbs urges us to search out wisdom like buried treasure. Wise people enjoy the hunt. They get a rush out of discovering a new gem of understanding, a new jewel of discernment, a new golden principal they can install in their lives to keep them on the path toward a life that truly matters right now and forever.
Don’t get me wrong. Some sin feels really good in the moment. But as we gain the wisdom to understand the painful consequences of sinful choices, hard reality will steal the fun from that “evil conduct,” “wickedness,” and just plain “doing wrong.” We’ll make a new hobby out of doing wise that won’t get old in the long run.
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