John Gill Commentary Proverbs 29:3

"Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth [his] substance." — Proverbs 29:3 (ASV)

Whoso loves wisdom rejoices his father
He that is a philosopher, especially a religious one, that not only loves and seeks after natural wisdom, but moral wisdom and knowledge; and more particularly evangelical wisdom, Christ the Wisdom of God, who is to be valued and loved above all things; the Gospel of Christ, which is the wisdom of God in a mystery; and the knowledge of it which is the wisdom which comes from above and is pure and peaceable; and which lies much in the fear of God, and in the faith of Jesus Christ, attended with all the fruits of righteousness: such a son makes glad his father, both because of his temporal good, since he does not waste but improve the substance he has given him; and because of his spiritual and eternal welfare; and since instead of being a reproach he is an honour to him; see (Proverbs 10:1) ;

but he that keeps company with harlots spends [his] substance :
his father has given him, and comes to want and beggary; all which is a grief to his parents: or, "that feeds harlots" ^F9 ; who live in a riotous and voluptuous manner, and soon drain a man of his substance, and bring him to a morsel of bread; see (Luke 15:13Luke 15:14Luke 15:30) (Proverbs 6:26) ; and such a son grieves his father, seeing he spends his substance and damns his soul.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F9: (her) "nutrit", V. L. "pascit", Pagninus, Piscator, Gejerus, Schultens; "pascitur", Michaelis; "pascens", Montanus, Mercerus.