God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 17:21
21The parent of a fool has grief, and the father of a godless fool has no joy.
Proverbs 17:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
- New International Version (NIV)To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.
Context of Proverbs 17:21
19Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction. 20A twisted mind never finds happiness, and one with a devious tongue ⌞repeatedly⌟ gets into trouble. The parent of a fool has grief, and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 22A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one’s strength. 23A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:21 word by word
יֹלֵ֣ד כְּ֭סִיל לְת֣וּגָה ל֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יִ֝שְׂמַ֗ח אֲבִ֣י נָבָֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:21
- Proverbs 17:25A foolish son is a heartache to his father and bitter grief to his mother.
- Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
- Proverbs 15:20A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish child despises its mother.
- Proverbs 19:13A foolish son ruins his father, and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water.
- Genesis 26:34When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite. He also married Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite.
- 1 Samuel 2:32You will see distress in my dwelling place. In spite of the good that I do for Israel, no one in your family will live to an old age.
- 1 Samuel 8:3The sons didn’t follow their father’s example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.
- 2 Samuel 18:33The king was shaken ⌞by the news⌟. He went to the room above the gate and cried. “My son Absalom!” he said as he went. “My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”
- Proverbs 23:15My son, if you have a wise heart, my heart will rejoice as well.
- 2 Corinthians 2:3This is the very reason I wrote to you. I didn’t want to visit you and be distressed by those who should make me happy. I’m confident about all of you that whatever makes me happy also makes you happy.
- 3 John 1:4Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
Commentaries on Proverbs 17:21
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. (Compare Pr 23:24). Different words are rendered by "fool," both denoting stupidity and impiety.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 17:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries