Cease

Proverbs 19:27  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge. 

‘Cease’ – The word implies active restraint, not merely stopping physically, but choosing to disengage mentally and morally. The instruction is not to listen to falsehoods or teachings that lead astray. Listening to what is untrue or corrupt warps the heart and understanding, leading to sinful decisions. Discernment is required; not everything presented as “knowledge” or “advice” is beneficial (4:14-15; Ps. 101:3).

‘My son’ – This is a personal address emphasising care and authority. In Proverbs, when God’s wisdom speaks to “my son,” it is God’s instruction conveyed through Solomon or a fatherly figure (19:20). It underscores a mentoring relationship: the speaker is guiding the listener to life, not merely giving abstract advice. The counsel is personal, practical, and divine in origin, not optional or theoretical.

The verse urges the son to stop listening to anything that distorts truth and to refuse influence from the wicked. It combines discernment (“cease”) with reverence and submission (“my son”), highlighting that true wisdom comes from heeding God’s guidance rather than human cunning or corrupt advice.