Proverbs 17:21
Modern Translations
New International Version
To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

New Living Translation
It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

English Standard Version
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

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

New American Standard Bible
He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

NASB 1995
He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

NASB 1977
He who begets a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

Amplified Bible
He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.

Christian Standard Bible
A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.

Contemporary English Version
It's never pleasant to be the parent of a fool and have nothing but pain.

Good News Translation
There is nothing but sadness and sorrow for parents whose children do foolish things.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The parent of a fool has grief, and the father of a godless fool has no joy.

International Standard Version
The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— the father of a fool has no joy.

NET Bible
Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.
Classic Translations
King James Bible
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

New King James Version
He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

King James 2000 Bible
He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.

New Heart English Bible
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

World English Bible
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

American King James Version
He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.

American Standard Version
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.

A Faithful Version
He who begets a fool does it to his sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.

Darby Bible Translation
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.

English Revised Version
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

Bishops' Bible of 1568
He that begetteth a foole, begetteth his sorowe: and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
An vnwyse body bryngeth himselfe in to sorowe, and ye father of a foole can haue no ioye.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, "" Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.

Smith's Literal Translation
The foolish one was born for sorrow to himself, and the father of the foolish one shall not rejoice.

Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.

Translations from Aramaic
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He that begets a fool, it is to his own shame, neither will his father rejoice in him.

Lamsa Bible
He who begets a fool does it to his own shame; his father will have no joy in him.

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a churl hath no joy.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
















Proverbs 17:20
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