“A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. Also, to punish the righteous is not good, nor to strike princes for their uprightness” (Proverbs 17:25-26).
The way of the transgressor is hard (Prov. 13:15), not only for the transgressors but also for their parents (Prov. 10:1, 17:25). Often, their parental failure to actively correct the innate foolishness bound up in their offspring’s heart (Prov. 22:15) has resulted in an adult child whose foolish decisions and actions overwhelm their hearts with grief, sorrow, and lifelong bitterness. Few failures in life are more painful and harsh than being a failure as a parent.
Of equal shame and pain is the individual (or nation) who is so wicked that he calls evil “good” and good “evil”. He is opposed to righteousness and approves of the foolish behavior which breaks a parent’s heart. When a civil leader, for example, advocates for leniency and freedom for a criminal gang member who is in violation of numerous laws, it is not good. Such unrighteousness is foolish and bitter; it is a shame and disgrace to any nation (Prov. 14:34).
