Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Foolishness (is) bound in (or to) the heart of a child - not merely by slight threads, but as it were by chains, so that it cannot easily be torn from it. The Hebrew, qªshuwraah (H7194), expresses firm, compact, and close embrace (Genesis 44:30; 1 Samuel 18:1).
(But) (notwithstanding the intimacy of the bond of union between foolishness and a child's heart) the rod of correction (the rod which is not used in blind passion, and immoderately, but for the amendment of the child) shall drive it far from him (Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 23:13-14; Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 29:17).