Proverbs 15:20 (DRB)

Passage

A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:18 A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient appeaseth those that are stirred up.

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: the way of the just is without offence.

Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother.

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.

Proverbs 15:22 Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wise", "maketh", "father", "joyful", "foolish", "despiseth", and "mother". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wise" and "maketh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "The way of the slothful is as..." into verse 21's "Folly is joy to the fool and...", so "wise" and "maketh" 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 "wise" and "maketh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.