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ESV A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
NIVA foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
NASBA foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
CSBA foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
NLTFoolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
KJVA foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
NKJVA foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
This verse repeats a prior thought (Proverbs 17:21), but with a stronger emphasis. Verse 21 carries the idea of sorrow and worry. The term used here, translated as "grief," leans more to ideas like offense and anger. The idea that ungodly children bring pain to their families is a common refrain in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 10:1, 5; 19:26; 29:15).
Because a father is supposed to instruct his children in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6), he is deeply grieved when a foolish son rebels against his teaching and turns away from the Lord. A mother experiences bitterness if her son spurns her tender care and love. The father of the prodigal must have felt great sorrow when his son demanded his inheritance and left for a sinful life (Luke 15:11–13). Children raised in Christian homes may yield to peer pressure and anti-Christian philosophy. Some, sadly, cast aside the teaching and influence of godly parents.
Of course, a father may provoke his children (Ephesians 6:4) through improper actions; parents bear responsibility for how they treat their children, even if the child's response is part of their free choice.
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THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission.
