To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Parallel translations
- WEB to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
- BSB To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
- 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 ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
- Prov 8:17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
- Ps 119:9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
- Prov 9:4–6Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
- Prov 8:12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
- Ps 119:130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
- Prov 8:32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
- Isa 35:8And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
- Titus 2:6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
- Ps 34:11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
- 2 Tim 2:22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Prov 1:22–23How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
- Prov 7:7–24And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
- Prov 3:21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
- Prov 2:10–11When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
- Ps 19:7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
- Eccl 11:9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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.