To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
Parallel translations
- WEB to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
- KJV To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
- NKJV To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
- NASB To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,
- NLT These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The proverbs give discernment to the naive and knowledge to the young. They matter because wisdom is offered even to the inexperienced who lack it.
Overview
The 'simple' are those open and untrained, easily led astray; the 'young man' stands at life's crossroads. Proverbs equips both with prudence and discretion before bad choices harden into ruin. This reflects God's gracious initiative to instruct the undeserving, a grace fully shown in the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Prov 8:5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
- Prov 8:17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
- Ps 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
- Prov 9:4–6“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
- Prov 8:12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
- Ps 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- Prov 8:32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Isa 35:8And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
- Titus 2:6In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
- Ps 34:11Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
- 2 Tim 2:22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Prov 1:22–23“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
- Prov 7:7–24I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
- Prov 3:21My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
- Prov 2:10–11For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
- Ps 19:7The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Eccl 11:9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 1:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.