Proverbs 17:21

19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
KJV
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
WEB
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
ASV
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
DARBY
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
BLB
The one begetting a fool, grief [is] unto him, and the father of a fool is not glad.
ÅB
Den som har en narr til sønn, får sorg av ham; en dåres far har ingen glede.
OTB
Å ha en dåre til barn bringer sorg; det er ingen glede for forelderen til en dåre.
B1930
Den som har en narr til sønn, får sorg av ham; en dåres far har ingen glede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references