Proverbs 15:21 (DBY)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; but the path of the upright is made plain.

Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word in its season, how good is it!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "folly", "void", "sense", "understanding", "regulateth", and "walk". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "folly" and "void", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "A wise son maketh a glad father..." into verse 22's "Without counsel purposes are disappointed but in...", so "folly" and "void" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "folly" and "void" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.