Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames 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.
- BSB A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces 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 29:3Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Prov 29:15The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
- 1 Pet 4:3–4For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
- Prov 3:1–35My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
- Prov 23:19–22Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
- Prov 28:24Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It’s not wrong.” He is a partner with a destroyer.
- Prov 19:26He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
- Luke 15:13Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
- Prov 2:1–6My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you;
- Luke 15:30But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.