“quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit, et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.”
“For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
“for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.”
“for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.”
“For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
And as. Septuagint, “but he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth,” as St. Paul quotes this passage, Hebrews xii. 6. The verb is now wanting in Hebrew, or ceab; “as a father” may signify “scourgeth, in piel, (Menochius) with i prefixed. (Calmet)
either, 1. By making light of it, or not being duly affected with if; and so this is one extreme opposed to the other in the next clause. Or rather, 2. By accounting it an unnecessary, and useless, and troublesome thing; but rather esteem it as a privilege and favour from God, and a benefit to thyself; for such negatives do oft imply the contrary affirmatives by a common figure called meiosis, as Pro 17:21, and oft elsewhere. And this sense seems to agree better both with the following clause, which repeats the same thing with some aggravation, after the manner; and with the reason used to enforce this and the following command, Pro 3:12, which concerns not such as are insensible, but rather such as had too deep a sense of the evil of affliction. neither esteem it tedious and intolerable, but endure it with patience and cheerfulness.
Verses 7-12 There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it; and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness.