Proverbs 17:26
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, [nor] to smite nobles for uprightness.
A Conservative Version
In The King James Version
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
In Context
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
27He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Cross References
Genesis 18:25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay a righteous man with a wicked man, that so the righteous man should be as the wicked man. Far be it from thee. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
2 Samuel 3:39And I am this day weak, though anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. LORD reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.
2 Samuel 19:7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak graciously to thy servants. For I swear by LORD, if thou do not go forth, there will not remain a man with thee this night. And that will be worse to thee than all the evil that has befallen
Proverbs 17:15He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to LORD.
Micah 5:1Now thou shall gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:26
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. Observe, 1. Wicked children are an affliction to both their parents. They are an occasion of anger to the father (so the word signifies), because they contemn his authority, but of sorrow and bitterness to the mother, because they abuse her tenderness. The parents, being joint-sufferers, should therefore bring mutual comfort to bear them up under it, and strive to make it as easy as they can, the mother to mollify the father's anger,… Read the whole commentary →