Proverbs 15:20

20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 15:20 in Other Translations

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

20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

20 Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother.

20 Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish one despises his mother.

Proverbs 15:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:20

A wise son maketh a glad father
(See Gill on Proverbs 10:1); but a foolish man despiseth his mother;
that bore him and brought him up, and perhaps was too indulgent to him; which aggravates his sin and her sorrow; (See Gill on Proverbs 10:1); or causes her to be despised by others, as Jarchi interprets it; such a man's sin, which is great folly, and shows him to be a foolish man, is highly resented by the Lord, and will be severely punished; see ( Proverbs 30:17 ) . The Targum is,

``a foolish son despises his mother;''

and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, which makes the antithesis more clear; and the Hebrew text designs one grown up to man's estate.

Proverbs 15:20 In-Context

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Cross References

• 1. S Proverbs 10:1