This sounds like it is coming from the Apocrypha..

is that correct? From the Catholic Bible?

My protestant Bibles do not have this, but I have always had a little difficulty with Proverbs 13:24 "He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him, seeks him with discipline."

A commentary from the Soncino Books of the Bible reads:

The verb "hateth" is sometimes used merely with the comparative intention of not loving, or not loving so much, rather than of actual hating...... A man displays no love for a child by failing to correct him......He does not overlook the child's faults and exercises disciplinary measures to eradicate them."

But too many people have taken this to the extreme as a justification to beat their children. I really do not think that is what Solomon, the Holy Spirit or YHWH intended.

B