It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom - as his "sport." What he knows by understanding ought to be done, that by wisdom he does. "Wisdom" dictates to him to do just the reverse of the fool: to be serious in avoiding occasions of sin, in warning others against it, and in hating it sternly. So the parallelism requires the sense to be. "Mischief" - literally (Hebrew, zimmah), premeditated and heinous wickedness, as in Judges 20:6. Instead of penitential tears, such as the godly shed, foolish sinners regard sin as "sport," which they openly delight and glory in (Proverbs 14:9; Proverbs 15:21; Isaiah 3:9).The good man's play, recreation, and delight, is to do good: so the Model Man, Messiah (John 4:34).