Proverbs 10:23

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight the comparison of wickedness vs wisdom: 

Proverbs 10:23 (NASBStr)

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,

And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

Proverbs 10:23 (ESV)

Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,

but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

The comparison here, between the wicked and the righteous, is so vivid.   The fool does wickedness like some play ball; it is a sport to them.  They laugh and are excited about their wickedness.  You only have to watch the wicked on the weekends or the evenings in the club scene to see this joy and enthusiasm for the sport of sin.   In Proverbs 2:14 and 15:21 we read the same lines.  

Proverbs 2:14 (ESV)

who rejoice in doing evil

and delight in the perverseness of evil,

Proverbs 15:21 (ESV)

Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

The joy and excitement of the fool while in sin is hard to miss.  In contrast, the man of understanding (the wise man; the righteous man) has wisdom as his sport.   The joy and excitement of the man of understanding is from displaying and dispensing wisdom.  His heart is full of it and it overflows in constant energy through his mouth.   While the wicked play folly the righteous dance to wisdom.  You can tell a lot about a person by what gives them excitment.   When they embrace sin as their joy, folly is reigning their hearts.  When they embrace wisdom as their joy, righteousness is reigning.   Watch which sport they embrace and you will know what is in their heart.   To a person of “understanding,” wisdom is their sport.   A person who wants to be like Christ and wants to demonstrate Godliness in their life desires wisdom.  God provides wisdom to the person of understanding and adds His joy to it.