Proverbs 17:21 (BSB)

A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

From Proverbs 17. Also in the ESV.

Commentary on Proverbs 17:21

• Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Proverbs 17:21: This expresses that very emphatically which many wise and good men feel very sensibly, what a grievous vexatious thing it is to have a foolish wicked child. See here, 1. How uncertain all our creature-comforts are, so that we are often not only disappointed in them, but that proves the greatest cross in which we promised ourselves most satisfaction.
• John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Proverbs 17:21: He that begetteth a fool doth it to his sorrow,.... As it proves in the issue; though it was joy to him when a man child was born, and took delight in him while in infancy and childhood, and promised himself much happiness in him when at years of discretion; but, instead of that, he departs from his education principles, despises all parental counsels and...
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Proverbs 17:21: (Compare Pro 23:24). Different words are rendered by "fool," both denoting stupidity and impiety.
• Keil & Delitzsch (Lutheran), Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament on Proverbs 17:21: Pro 17:21 The first three parts of the old Solomonic Book of Proverbs ((1) Prov 10-12; (2) 13:1-15:19; (3) 15:20-17:20) are now followed by the fourth part. We recognise it as striking the same keynote as Pro 10:1. In Pro 17:21 it resounds once more, here commencing a part; there, Pro 10:1, beginning the second group of proverbs. The first closes, as it begins, with a proverb of the fool.