Proverbs 15:20 (GNV)

Passage

A wise sonne reioyceth the father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:18 An angrie man stirreth vp strife: but hee that is slowe to wrath, appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 15:19 The way of a slouthfull man is as an hedge of thornes: but the way of the righteous is plaine.

Proverbs 15:20 A wise sonne reioyceth the father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Proverbs 15:21 Foolishnes is ioy to him that is destitute of vnderstanding: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.

Proverbs 15:22 Without cousel thoughts come to nought: but in the multitude of counsellers there is stedfastnesse.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "The way of a slouthfull man is..." into verse 21's "Foolishnes is ioy to him that is...", so "wise" and "sonne" 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 "sonne" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.