Proverbs 19:18
New International Version
Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.

New Living Translation
Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

English Standard Version
Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Berean Standard Bible
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

King James Bible
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

New King James Version
Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

New American Standard Bible
Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

NASB 1995
Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

NASB 1977
Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

Legacy Standard Bible
Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not direct your soul to put him to death.

Amplified Bible
Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.

Christian Standard Bible
Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t be intent on killing him.

American Standard Version
Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.

Contemporary English Version
Correct your children before it's too late; if you don't punish them, trouble will come their way.

English Revised Version
Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; and set not thy heart on his destruction.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Discipline your son while there is still hope. Do not be the one responsible for his death.

Good News Translation
Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don't, you are helping them destroy themselves.

International Standard Version
Discipline your son while there is still hope— but don't set your heart on his destruction.

Majority Standard Bible
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

NET Bible
Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.

New Heart English Bible
Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Webster's Bible Translation
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

World English Bible
Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Discipline your son, for there is hope, "" And do not lift up your soul to put him to death.

Young's Literal Translation
Chastise thy son, for there is hope, And to put him to death lift not up thy soul.

Smith's Literal Translation
Correct thy son when there is hope, and thy soul shall not lift up for his sighing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Teach your son; do not despair. But do not set your soul toward putting him to death.

New American Bible
Discipline your son, for there is hope; but do not be intent on his death.

New Revised Standard Version
Discipline your children while there is hope; do not set your heart on their destruction.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Chasten your son while there is hope, and let not your soul share his dishonor.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Chasten your son because there is hope and do not cast out your soul to his shame.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Chasten thy son, for there is hope; But set not thy heart on his destruction.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Chasten thy son, for so he shall be hopeful; and be not exalted in thy soul to haughtiness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Man of Integrity
17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. 18Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death. 19A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.…

Cross References
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:7-11
Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? / If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. / Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? ...

Colossians 3:21
Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 23:13-14
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die. / Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.

1 Samuel 3:13
I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain them.

Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; / for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Psalm 94:12
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

Revelation 3:19
Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.


Treasury of Scripture

Chasten your son while there is hope, and let not your soul spare for his crying.

chasten

Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:14,15
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell…

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Proverbs 19
1. Life and Conduct














Discipline your son
The Hebrew word for "discipline" is "yasar," which implies correction, instruction, and chastening. In the ancient Near Eastern context, discipline was seen as an essential part of upbringing, not merely punitive but formative. It reflects a loving guidance that aims to shape character and instill wisdom. The phrase emphasizes the responsibility of parents to actively engage in their children's moral and spiritual development. From a conservative Christian perspective, this discipline is rooted in love and aims to reflect God's own discipline of His children, as seen in Hebrews 12:6, where the Lord disciplines those He loves.

for in that there is hope
The word "hope" in Hebrew is "tiqvah," which conveys expectation and a future. This phrase suggests that proper discipline is not an end in itself but a means to a hopeful future. It implies that through discipline, a child can be guided towards a path of righteousness and success. In the biblical context, hope is often tied to trust in God's promises and the anticipation of His faithfulness. Thus, disciplining a child is an act of faith, trusting that it will lead to a positive outcome in accordance with God's will.

do not be a willing party
The phrase "willing party" suggests active participation or consent. In the Hebrew, the idea is one of intentionality and choice. This part of the verse warns against passive parenting or neglect, which can lead to dire consequences. It underscores the importance of being proactive in a child's upbringing, rather than allowing them to drift into harmful behaviors. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this aligns with the biblical mandate to train up a child in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6), emphasizing the active role parents must play in guiding their children.

to his death
The term "death" here is "mavet" in Hebrew, which can refer to physical death or a state of spiritual ruin. The stark warning in this phrase highlights the severe consequences of failing to discipline a child. It serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in parenting, where neglect can lead to a child's moral and spiritual demise. In the broader scriptural context, death is often contrasted with life, which is found in obedience to God's commandments. Thus, this phrase calls parents to consider the eternal implications of their parenting choices, urging them to lead their children towards life in Christ.

(18) And let not thy soul spare for his crying.--Or, but set not thy soul on his destruction. Do not go so far as to kill him in thy zeal for his good, or despair of his amendment. (Comp. Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21.) It may also signify "do not let him perish for want of chastisement," as Proverbs 23:13 is also explained.

Verse 18. - Chasten thy son while there is hope; or. seeing that there is hope. Being still young and impressionable, and not confirmed in bad habits, he may be reformed by judicious chastisement. The same expression occurs in Job 11:18; Jeremiah 31:16. "For so he shall be well hoped of" (εὔελπις), Septuagint (comp. Proverbs 23:13). And let not thy soul spare for his crying. "It is better," says a German apothegm, "that the child weep than the father." But the rendering of the Authorized Version is not well established, and this second clause is intended to inculcate moderation in punishment. Vulgate, Ad interfectionem autem ejus ne ponas animam tuam; Revised Version. Set not thine heart on his destruction. Chastise him duty and sufficiently, but not so heavily as to occasion his death, which a father had no right to do. The Law enjoined the parents who had an incorrigibly bad son to bring him before the judge or the eiders, who alone had the power of life and death, and might in certain cases order the offender to be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:18, etc.). Christianity recommended moderation in punishment (see Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). Septuagint, "Be not excited in the mind to despiteful treatment (εἰς ὕβριν);" i.e. be not led away by passion to unseemly acts or words, but reprove with gentleness, while you are firm and uncompromising in denouncing evil. This is much the same advice as that given by the apostle in the passages just cited.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Discipline
יַסֵּ֣ר (yas·sêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

your son,
בִּ֭נְךָ (bin·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

for in that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there is
יֵ֣שׁ (yêš)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

hope;
תִּקְוָ֑ה (tiq·wāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8615: A cord, expectancy

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be party
תִּשָּׂ֥א (tiś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his death.
הֲ֝מִית֗וֹ (hă·mî·ṯōw)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son for there is hope (Prov. Pro Pr)
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