Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Ver. 20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction.] Or, Correction. Here he directs his speech to the younger sort, and exhorts them. (1.) To hear counsel, that is, to keep the commandment, as Proverbs 19:16 : (2.) To receive correction of parents, as Proverbs 19:18, as the only way to sound and lasting wisdom: for Vexatio dat intellectum; Piscator ictus sapit; Quae nocent docent. Or Solomon may here bring in the father, thus lessoning his untoward child, whom he hath lashed. For to correct, and not to instruct, is to snuff the lamp, but not pour in oil to feed it.