Proverbs 17:6 (DBY)

Passage

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:4 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!

Proverbs 17:8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "children's", "crown", "glory", and "fathers". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "children's" and "crown", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "Whoso mocketh a poor man reproacheth his..." into verse 7's "Excellent speech becometh not a vile man...", so "children's" and "crown" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "children's" and "crown" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.