A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
- KJV Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
- NKJV Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
- NASB He who keeps the Law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
- NLT Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A son who keeps the law is wise, but one who runs with gluttons disgraces his father. It connects obedience to honor and bad company to shame.
Overview
Keeping God's law marks a discerning son, while companionship with self-indulgent gluttons brings shame upon the family. The verse warns that our associations and obedience reflect on those who raised us. It points toward the honor brought to the Father by the obedient Son, Christ, who perfectly kept the law on our behalf (John 8:29).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 29:3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Prov 29:15A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- 1 Pet 4:3–4For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
- Prov 3:1–35My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Prov 23:19–22Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
- Prov 28:24He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.
- Prov 19:26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
- Luke 15:13After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
- Prov 2:1–6My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- Luke 15:30But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 28:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.