My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction. Since heretofore Solomon had instructed the youth in what he ought to do, so now in what he ought to suffer. Religion consists not only in action but also in passive obedience. "Despise not" chastening, as if it were useless and irksome. He hereby anticipates a covert objection, If all the favour in the sight of God and man, and the health which have been attributed to the fearers of the Lord (Proverbs 3:1-10) really be theirs, how is it that we see them often so sorely afflicted? The reason is, the Lord sends these afflictions, not for evil, but for good to His people. 'Chastisement [ kolasis , or rather, punishment] is for the sake of the sufferer; vengeance [timooria], for the satisfaction of him that inflicts it' (Aristotle, 'Rhetoric,' I., 10). The Lord does not even so much punish, as chasten His child. Chastisements are blessings in disguise (Job 5:17; Psalms 94:12; Revelation 3:19). "Neither be weary" - [ taaqots , from qowts , a thorn.] Do not regard it as an annoying thorn. 'Two things are forbidden here.
(1) Do not despise (make light of) the Lord's chastening, as if thou couldest easily cast it off-in insensibility to it, not (1) Do not despise (make light of) the Lord's chastening, as if thou couldest easily cast it off-in insensibility to it, not recognizing the Lord's hand in it, and not humbling thyself under it.
(2) Do not, on the contrary, through pusillanimity, be weary, and impatient, and desponding under the burden' (Thomas Cartwright). Seneca ('Consol. ad Polyb.,' ch. 36:) says, 'Not to feel thy evils would be inhuman, not to bear them, unmanly' (Isaiah 9:9-10; Isaiah 9:13).