25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
The son who doesn’t listen to wisdom, following after his sinful desires, taking shortcuts whenever possible, wronging others, lying, manipulating, and always prowling for more, brings great distress to his godly parents. The mother and father who encourage his self-seeking and godless ways are just as foolish as the son they bore. Those in authority who allow the innocent to be punished are in the wrong. Whether they receive unfair fines or a physical beating, God sees when the righteous are abused. Are you suffering because of the mistreatment of a family member, friend, co-worker, or even an enemy? Although it can be incredibly painful, choose to see God’s hand in the situation. God will work the circumstances for your good and see that the wrongdoer is held accountable for his wickedness. God is good and will make everything right in the end.