God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 29:3
3A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth.
Proverbs 29:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
- New International Version (NIV)A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
Context of Proverbs 29:3
1A person who will not bend after many warnings will suddenly be broken beyond repair. 2When righteous people increase, the people ⌞of God⌟ rejoice, but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans. A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth. 4By means of justice, a king builds up a country, but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down. 5A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into.
Read all of Proverbs 29Proverbs 29:3 word by word
אִֽישׁ־אֹהֵ֣ב חָ֭כְמָה יְשַׂמַּ֣ח אָבִ֑יו וְרֹעֶ֥ה ז֝וֹנ֗וֹת יְאַבֶּד־הֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whosoאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- lovethאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
- wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- rejoicethשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
- his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- but he that keepeth companyרָעָהrâ‛âh · to accompanyH7462
- with harlotsזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
- spendethאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
- substanceהוֹןhôn · substanceH1952
Cross-references for Proverbs 29:3
- 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 23:15My son, if you have a wise heart, my heart will rejoice as well.
- Proverbs 27:11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad so that I can answer anyone who criticizes me.
- Luke 1:13The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.
- Proverbs 5:8Stay far away from her. Do not even go near her door.
- Proverbs 6:26A prostitute’s price is ⌞only⌟ a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts for ⌞your⌟ life itself.
- Proverbs 21:17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor. Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.
- Proverbs 28:7Whoever follows ⌞God’s⌟ teachings is a wise son. Whoever associates with gluttons disgraces his father.
- Luke 15:13“After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle.
Commentaries on Proverbs 29:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3But he that keepeth company - רעה roeh, he that feedeth harlots, יאבד yeabed, shall utterly destroy his substance. Has there ever been a single case to the contrary?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Spendeth - The laws of parallelism would lead us to expect “troubleth his father,” but that is passed over as a thing about which the profligate would not care, and he is reminded of what comes home to him, that he is on the road to ruin. The king - The ruler, as the supreme fountain of all justice, and as the ideal judge, is contrasted with the taker of bribers.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3Verse 3 Divine wisdom best keeps us from ruinous lusts.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3A man's wisdom influences his parents (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 17:21). Spending money on prostitutes quickly wastes a man's wealth.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. (Compare Pr 4:6, 7; 10:1, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 29:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 29
- 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
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