The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
The verse stands in the first section of Proverbs, chapters 1-24, principally credited to Solomon. It is one of Solomon's wise sayings, probably from the early part of his reign, poetic in style and gathered from the three thousand spoken by him. It is also part of his collection of short, practical moral sayings, gathered in part from other sources.
As part of Proverbs it belongs to a manual of practical rules of life for the common experiences of everyday life, relating to almost every part of moral and religious duty, especially duties to families. It forms a storehouse of practical wisdom, a summary of life's experience, and a faithful exhibition of moral philosophy. The book sets forth Jehovah as creator and governor of the universe and disposer of human destinies, rewarding piety and punishing evil. It is to be read by asking whether the beginning of wisdom is present in life, and each maxim is to be studied in the light of Scripture examples, with special attention to the invitations and counsels of Christ in the character of Wisdom. The book offers valuable instruction.
A wise son brings joy, gladness and comfort to his father and parents, while a foolish son is the heaviness, sorrow, grief and shame of his mother and parents. Wisdom begins with reverence and fear of the Lord, so a wise son is a Christian and godly son, saved and converted, walking in the truth and beloved of the Lord, while a foolish son is wayward and rejects true religion. A godly son makes his father glad.
A son should be a blessing and not a sorrow to his family, a source of pride, help, comfort and joy at home and in his parents' old age and later years, carrying forward his father's unfinished plans and bringing comfort to his mother in her old age. Conduct honors parents, but worldly achievements that bring public credit are slight beside the honor taught by the command to honor father and mother. Obeying parents who ask only what is in accord with the Lord is itself a way of honoring them.
A boy's training helps determine his course, for neglect, lack of restraint, and failure to guide him and teach him self-control can contribute to his going astray. When a mother lets evil grow unchecked in her little one, ruin follows, for the seeds of evil already sown in the child's heart will spring up of themselves and cover all the soil unless they are rooted out. A wayward son should resolve to turn from his conduct so he will no longer grieve his mother but comfort and bless her. A wise son ought to be the comfort and joy of both father and mother and a foolish son their concern and heaviness. Carnal parents who care nothing for souls care only for sharpness in business and fairness in countenance, feeling no joy when all their children walk in the truth and no concern when they do otherwise, and those who despise true religion even feel anger, wrath and hatred when sons and daughters turn to the Lord, so that what ought to be comfort and joy becomes disquietude, making curses out of blessings by putting bitter for sweet and darkness for light.
The verse stands in the first section of Proverbs, chapters 1-24, principally credited to Solomon. It is one of Solomon's wise sayings, probably from the early part of his reign, poetic in style and gathered from the three thousand spoken by him. It is also part of his collection of short, practical moral sayings, gathered in part from other sources.
As part of Proverbs it belongs to a manual of practical rules of life for the common experiences of everyday life, relating to almost every part of moral and religious duty, especially duties to families. It forms a storehouse of practical wisdom, a summary of life's experience, and a faithful exhibition of moral philosophy. The book sets forth Jehovah as creator and governor of the universe and disposer of human destinies, rewarding piety and punishing evil. It is to be read by asking whether the beginning of wisdom is present in life, and each maxim is to be studied in the light of Scripture examples, with special attention to the invitations and counsels of Christ in the character of Wisdom. The book offers valuable instruction.
A wise son brings joy, gladness and comfort to his father and parents, while a foolish son is the heaviness, sorrow, grief and shame of his mother and parents. Wisdom begins with reverence and fear of the Lord, so a wise son is a Christian and godly son, saved and converted, walking in the truth and beloved of the Lord, while a foolish son is wayward and rejects true religion. A godly son makes his father glad.
A son should be a blessing and not a sorrow to his family, a source of pride, help, comfort and joy at home and in his parents' old age and later years, carrying forward his father's unfinished plans and bringing comfort to his mother in her old age. Conduct honors parents, but worldly achievements that bring public credit are slight beside the honor taught by the command to honor father and mother. Obeying parents who ask only what is in accord with the Lord is itself a way of honoring them.
A boy's training helps determine his course, for neglect, lack of restraint, and failure to guide him and teach him self-control can contribute to his going astray. When a mother lets evil grow unchecked in her little one, ruin follows, for the seeds of evil already sown in the child's heart will spring up of themselves and cover all the soil unless they are rooted out. A wayward son should resolve to turn from his conduct so he will no longer grieve his mother but comfort and bless her. A wise son ought to be the comfort and joy of both father and mother and a foolish son their concern and heaviness. Carnal parents who care nothing for souls care only for sharpness in business and fairness in countenance, feeling no joy when all their children walk in the truth and no concern when they do otherwise, and those who despise true religion even feel anger, wrath and hatred when sons and daughters turn to the Lord, so that what ought to be comfort and joy becomes disquietude, making curses out of blessings by putting bitter for sweet and darkness for light.