17:6 Grandchildren 1 are like 2 a crown 3 to the elderly,
and the glory 4 of children is their parents. 5
19:14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents, 6
but a prudent wife 7 is from the Lord.
28:7 The one who keeps the law 8 is a discerning child, 9
but a companion of gluttons brings shame 10 to his parents. 11
1 tn Heb “children of children [sons of sons].”
2 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
3 sn The metaphor signifies that grandchildren are like a crown, that is, they are the “crowning glory” of life. The proverb comes from a culture that places great importance on the family in society and that values its heritage.
4 tn The noun תִּפְאָרָת (tif’arat) means “beauty; glory” (BDB 802 s.v.). In this passage “glory” seems to be identified with “glorying; boasting”; so a rendering that children are proud of their parents would be in order. Thus, “glory of children” would be a subjective genitive, the glorying that children do.”
5 tc The LXX has inserted: “To the faithful belongs the whole world of wealth, but to the unfaithful not an obulus.” It was apparently some popular sentiment at the time.
tn Heb “their fathers.”
6 tn Heb “inheritance of fathers” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).
7 sn This statement describes a wife who has a skillful use of knowledge and discretion that proves to be successful. This contrasts with the preceding verse. The proverb is not concerned about unhappy marriages or bad wives (both of which exist); it simply affirms that when a marriage works out well one should credit it as a gift from God.
8 tn The Hebrew word could refer (1) to “instruction” by the father (cf. NCV) or (2) the Mosaic law (so most English versions). The chapter seems to be stressing religious obedience, so the referent is probably the law. Besides, the father’s teaching will be what the law demands, and the one who associates with gluttons is not abiding by the law.
9 tn Heb “son,” but the immediate context does not suggest limiting this only to male children.
10 sn The companion of gluttons shames his father and his family because such a life style as he now embraces is both unruly and antisocial.
11 tn Heb “father,” but the immediate context does not suggest limiting this only to the male parent.