Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Parallel Translations
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Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
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Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
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A wise son observeth the teaching; but he that is a companion of gluttonous men shameth his father.
Cross-references (10)
Passages linked to Proverbs 28:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 29:3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Proverbs 29:15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
- 1 Peter 4:3-4 For 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. They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming.
- Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
- Proverbs 3:1-35 My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments: for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace. Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction; for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her. By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens. By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion: so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck. Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes; for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken. Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you. Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you. Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm. Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright. Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble. The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
- Proverbs 19:26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
- Proverbs 23:19-22 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path! Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat: for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
- Proverbs 28:24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.
- Luke 15:13 Not 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.
- Luke 15:30 But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (11 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law [is] a wise…
Pro 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law [is] a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth his father.
Ver. 7. He that keepeth the law is a wise son.] It is neither good nature, nor good nurture or breeding, that can prove a man to be truly wise, but obedience to God’s statutes. {Deu 4:6} Aiphonsus, king of Spain, surnamed the Wise, was a rank fool and an arrant atheist; so are all the world’s wizards.
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But he that is a companion to riotous men.] Or, That feedeth gluttons, whose belly hath no bottom.
‘Ingluvies et tempestas, barathrumque macelli.’
They say the locust is all belly, which is joined to his mouth, and endeth at his tail: such are riotous belly gods. To feed such is to cast away all, and bring an indelible infamy upon the family.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Is a wise son; and consequently a credit and…
Is a wise son; and consequently a credit and comfort to his father, as hath been oft noted before.
Is a companion of riotous men; which is both a manifest violation of God’s law, which forbids this society, and is the ready way to a total and final apostacy from God, and from his law.
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Shameth his father, because he is a foolish son.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain Note, 1. Religion is true wisdom, and it makes…
Note, 1. Religion is true wisdom, and it makes men wise in every relation. He that conscientiously keeps the law is wise, and he will be particularly a wise son, that is, will act discreetly towards his parents, for the law of God teaches him to do so. 2. Bad company is a great hindrance to religion. Those that are companions of riotous men, that choose such for their companions and delight in their conversation, will certainly be drawn from keeping the law of God and drawn to transgress it, Psa 119:115. 3. Wickedness is not only a reproach to the sinner himself, but to all that are akin to him. He that keeps rakish company, and spends his time and money with them, not only grieves his parents, but shames them; it turns to their disrepute, as if they had not done their duty to him. They are ashamed that a child of theirs should be scandalous and abusive to their neighbours.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son,.... That…
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son,.... That observes the law of God; for, though he cannot perfectly keep it, yet he delights in it after the inward man; and with his spirit serves it, from a principle of love, in faith, and with a view to the glory of God, without mercenary and sinister ends. Such a man enjoys peace, and has a reward "in" though not "for" keeping the commands of it; so that it is his wisdom to observe it; and he may be truly called a wise man, Deu 4:6; Or that observes the law or commandments of his parents, which they enjoin him; see Pro 6:20; and particularly the law of God, which requires honour and obedience to be given to parents, and which turns to the account of children; it is well with them, and their days are prolonged on earth, and therefore they are wise that keep it, Eph 6:1; and such a wise son makes a glad father, as the contrary brings shame to him, as in the next clause;
but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father: that keeps company with gluttons, and indulges his sensual appetite with them; that "feeds" (d) such persons and himself, as some render the word; that gives up himself to an epicurean life: he brings himself at last to disgrace and poverty, and so causes shame to his father; who will be charged with neglecting his education, and indulging him in such a luxurious way of living; see Pro 10:5.
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(d) "qui pascit", V. L. Pagninus, Piscator, Gejerus, Schultens; "pascitar", Michaelis; "pascens", Montanus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain Keeping the law is national wisdom and honor. (Deu…
Keeping the law is national wisdom and honor. (Deu 4:6 .) Invaluable is that training, which leads young persons, under the Lord’s blessing, to this happy personal choice. (Isa 56:6-7 .) Such are manifestly taught of God, and guided by his Spirit into true wisdom. For suppose a son of polished manners and intellectual endowments, yet without right principle; or one of moderate ability, in an humble walk of life, yet deeply imbued with practical godliness; could we hesitate, which was the wise son, bringing honor to his father’s name? (Pro 23:24 .) Yet how often is shame instead of honor, the father’s bitter exercise! For how is his name blotted, when the depraved son, bent upon his own gratification, chooses the companionship of the ungodly, and shortly becomes one of them!†1 Young man! in thy noisy mirth hast thou found solid enduring peace?†2 Let the man of God direct you in the "cleansing thy way, by taking heed thereto according to the word."†3 Let his choice be thine — "I am a companion," not of riotous men, but "of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts."†4 Meet the enticements of thy former companions with a decided protest — "Depart from me, ye evil-doers; I will keep the commandments of my God."†5 Here is honor to thy father, happiness to thyself, usefulness to the Church, meetness for heaven.
Parents! Do we shrink from this overwhelming shame? Let us more diligently, more prayerfully cultivate that wise and holy training of our children, which is God’s appointed ordinance; and which, however long or severely he may try our faith, he will not fail to honor in his fittest time. (Pro 22:6 .)
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Footnotes:
†1 Pro 19:26; Pro 23:19-22 ; Pro 29:3, Pro 29:15 . Luk 15:13 .
†2 Pro 14:13. Ecc 2:2 ; Ecc 7:6 .
†3 Psa 119:9, Psa 119:11 .
†4 Psa 119:63.
†5 Psa 119:115.
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Pro 17:25).
(Compare Pro 17:25).
riotous men--or, "gluttons" (Pro 23:20-21).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 7. Keepeth the law — Is moral in deportment…
7. Keepeth the law — Is moral in deportment and character. Comp. Mar_10:19; Mar_10:21.
Wise son — Discreet, intelligent, he also imparts instruction by his example.
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A companion of riotous men — Profligates; margin, feedeth gluttons, “delighteth in prodigals.” — Stuart and Muenscher. But others, with the Authorized Version, read, companion, messmate. The idea probably is, that of a spendthrift who associates with prodigals like himself, feasting them at his own and his father’s expense.
Shameth, etc. — This may mean, wounds or injures, possibly by his shameful conduct.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. riotous] Rather, gluttonous. See Pro_23:20, note.
7. riotous] Rather, gluttonous. See Pro_23:20, note.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Whoso keepeth the Law is a wise son. "Law"…
Whoso keepeth the Law is a wise son. "Law" is torah, as ver. 4; but it seems here to include not only the Decalogue, but also the father"s instruction and commands. Such an obedient and prudent son brings honour and joy to a parent"s heart. (see Pro_10:1 Pro_29:3) He that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father; literally, he that feedeth, hath fellowship with, gluttons. (Pro_23:20) The son who herds with debauchers, and wastes his substance in riotous living, brings shame on, wounds, and insults, all connected with him. Such a one transgresses the Law and his father"s commands, and brings them into contempt. (comp. Pro_27:11) Hence the antithesis of the two clauses. Septuagint, "He that cherishes debauchery (poimainei aswtian ) dishonours his father." Aswtia occurs only in RAPC 2Ma 6:4, but is common in the New Testament; e.g. Eph_5:18 Tit_1:6.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 He who keeps the law
He who keeps the law
To "keep the law" means to do what God's law requires. AT: "He who obeys God's law" (See: Metaphor)
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a son who has understanding
The abstract noun "understanding" can be expressed as a verb. AT: "a son who understands" (See: Abstract Nouns)
of gluttons
"of people who eat too much." A "glutton" is a person who often eats and drinks excessively.
shames his father
"puts his father to shame" or "dishonors his father"
makes his fortune
"increases his wealth"
charging too much interest
"charging extra money to borrow"
interest
money paid by a borrower for the use of someone else's money
gathers his wealth
"brings his wealth together"
for another
"for another person"
pity
a strong feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone
translationWords
law, laws
understand
companion
shame
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 28:7 their parents: This proverb applies to both fathers…
28:7 their parents: This proverb applies to both fathers and mothers.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.