To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,
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.
- 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—
- 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 8:5You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
- Prov 8:17I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
- Ps 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
- Prov 9:4–6“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
- Prov 8:12“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
- Ps 119:130The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
- Prov 8:32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Isa 35:8A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there.
- Titus 2:6Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded;
- Ps 34:11Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
- 2 Tim 2:22Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Prov 1:22–23“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
- Prov 7:7–24I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
- Prov 3:21My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
- Prov 2:10–11For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
- Ps 19:7Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
- Eccl 11:9Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and 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 into judgment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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.