Proverbs 23:15

15 Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent.

Proverbs 23:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:15

My son, if thine heart be wise
To that which is good; so as from it to understand in a spiritual and experimental manner things divine and heavenly; he may be said to have a wise heart who knows in some measure what his heart is, the wickedness, the original depravity and corruption, of it; the plague of his own heart; the weakness and inability of it to do that which is good; the insufficiency of his own righteousness to justify him before God; the poverty of his spirit, and the folly of his mind: and who also is wise unto salvation; that knows the way of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ; and who applies to him for the same; builds on him, the foundation; prizes and values him; rejoices in him, and gives him the glory of his salvation; receives his doctrines, and obeys his commands; takes up and makes a profession of him on right principles, and walks wisely, becoming his character and profession; my heart shall rejoice, even mine;
it shall certainly and greatly rejoice; these words are spoken either by Solomon, who had a wise heart himself, and that either to his son, for whom he desired the same, nothing being more rejoicing to pious parents than to see their children becomes wise, especially in spiritual things; or else to those that attended on him for instruction, who was a preacher in Jerusalem; and what is the joy and crown of rejoicing of ministers but their converts, and to see them walking in the truth? ( 1 Thessalonians 2:19 1 Thessalonians 2:20 ) ( 2 John 1:4 ) ( 3 John 1:4 ) ; or these words are spoken by Wisdom, that is, by Christ, to his children; who rejoices when he has found them, or when they are converted, and become wise in a spiritual sense, and walk worthy, whereby Wisdom is justified of her children, ( Luke 15:5 Luke 15:6 ) ( Matthew 11:19 ) ; yea, there is joy in heaven, joy among the angels there, and even in the father of Christ, and of his people, ( Luke 15:7 Luke 15:10 Luke 15:23 Luke 15:24 ) .

Proverbs 23:15 In-Context

13 Don't be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won't kill them.
14 A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death
15 Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent.
16 My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you'll speak.
17 Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God -
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.