Proverbs 19:18 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

While there is hope; before custom in sin, and thy indulgence, hath made him hard-hearted and incorrigible. Let not thy soul spare, forbear not to give him due and necessary correction, for his crying, which oft stirs up a foolish and pernicious pity in parents towards them. This word, with some small difference in the points, is used in this sense Isaiah 24:11. Or, as it is in the margin, to his destruction, intimating that this is a cruel pity, and a likely way to expose him to that death threatened to stubborn sons, Deuteronomy 21:18,21. But this clause is, and may be, rendered otherwise, yet or but do not lift up thy soul (which signifies a vehement desire, Deuteronomy 24:15 Psalms 25:1 Jeremiah 44:14; let not thy passion or eager desire of chastening him transport thee so far as) to cause him to die, i.e. use moderation in this work.