Amplified Bible
Proverbs 1:4
4That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,
Proverbs 1:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
- New International Version (NIV)for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—
- English Standard Version (ESV)to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
- New King James Version (NKJV)To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
Context of Proverbs 1:4
2To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction; To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, 3To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, Righteousness, justice, and integrity; That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth, 5The wise will hear and increase their learning, And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth], 6To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation, And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].
Read all of Proverbs 1Proverbs 1:4 word by word
לָתֵ֣ת לִפְתָאיִ֣ם עָרְמָ֑ה לְ֝נַ֗עַר דַּ֣עַת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 1:4
- Proverbs 1:22“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing, How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 8:5O you naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], understand prudence and seek astute common sense; And, O you [closed-minded, self-confident] fools, understand wisdom [seek the insight and self-discipline that leads to godly living].
- Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says,
- Psalms 19:7The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Psalms 119:130The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).
- Isaiah 35:8A highway will be there, and a roadway; And it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for those who walk on the way [the redeemed]; And fools will not wander on it.
- Proverbs 7:7And among the naive [the inexperienced and gullible], I saw among the youths A young man lacking [good] sense,
- Proverbs 8:17I love those who love me; And those who seek me early and diligently will find me.
- Psalms 34:11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].
- Psalms 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”;
- 2 Timothy 2:22Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Commentaries on Proverbs 1:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4To give subtilty to the simple - The word simple, from simplex, compounded of sine, without, and plica, a fold, properly signifies plain and honest, one that has no by-ends in view, who is what he appears to be; and is opposed to complex, from complico, to fold together, to make one rope or cord out of many strands; but because honesty and plaindealing are so rare in the world, and none but the truly religious man will practice them, farther than the fear…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4This verse points out the two classes for which the book will be useful: (1) the “simple,” literally the “open,” the open-hearted, the minds ready to receive impressions for good or evil Proverbs 1:22; and (2) the “young,” who need both knowledge and discipline. To these the teacher offers the “subtilty,” which may turn to evil Exodus 21:14 and become as the wisdom of the serpent Genesis 3:1, but which also takes its place, as that wisdom does, among the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Simple people are like empty containers. Wisdom and foolishness compete to fill their minds and hearts (see Proverbs 9:1–18).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 1:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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