Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 19:18

"Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; nd set not thy heart on his destruction." — Proverbs 19:18 (ASV)

While there is hope - While he is still young, and capable of being reformed.

Crying - Better, as in the margin, 'Do not set your soul on his destruction'; words which either counsel forbearance in the act of chastisement (Colossians 3:21); or urge that a false leniency is a real cruelty.

The latter sense is preferable. The father is warned that to forbear from chastising is virtually to expose the son who needs it to a far worse penalty.