The Beginning of Knowledge-3

Pro. 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

To give...

נָתַן

nâthan

naw-than'

A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): - add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.

Translated "subtilty" (Pro. 1:4; cp. Gen. 3:1; Mat. 10:16); "guile" (Exo. 21:14); "wilily" (Jos. 9:4); "wisdom" (Pro. 8:5); and "prudence" (Pro. 8:12).

subtilty...

עָרְמָה

‛ormâh

or-maw'

Feminine of a stratagem; trickery; or (in a good sense) discretion: - guile, prudence, subtilty, wilily, wisdom.

Inconsiderate; unwary; artless, guileless, and unsuspecting; those who, through lack of knowledge and experience, act rashly and unwisely (Pro. 1:22, 1:32; 7:7; 8:5; 9:4, 9:16; 14:15, 14:18; 19:25; 21:11; 22:3; 27:12).

to the simple,...

פְּתָאִי פֶּתִי פְּתִי

p^ethı̂y pethı̂y p^ethâ'ı̂y

peth-ee', peh'-thee, peth-aw-ee'

From to open; silly (that is, seducible): - foolish, simple (-icity, one).

Prudent life is one with high moral standards, a life in which one does what is right… just, and fair. An immoral or unjust person can hardly be called wise in God’s sight!

“The simple” and the young need wisdom: “prudence,” knowledge, and discretion (m^ezimmâh, “wise planning”; also used in Pro. 2:11; 3:21, “discernment”; Pro. 5:2; 8:12). In Pro. 12:2 and Pro. 14:17 m^ezimmâh is used in a negative sense to mean crafty or wicked planning. Also the experienced (the wise, ḥāḵom, and the discerning, Pro. 1:5; cf. Pro. 1:2) are reminded of their need to grow in wisdom (in learning and guidance). “Guidance” (taḥbūlôṯ), literally, “steering's” (like the tackle for directing a ship), suggests moving one’s life in the right direction. This Hebrew word is used elsewhere only in Job 37:12 (“direction”); Pro. 11:14; 12:5 (“plans”); Pro. 20:18; 24:6.

to the young man...

נַעַר

na‛ar

nah'-ar

From through the idea of rustling of mane; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication a servant; also (by interchange of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age): - babe, boy, child, damsel [from the margin], lad, servant, young (man).

knowledge...

דַּעַת

da‛ath

dah'-ath

From properly to ascertain by seeing; knowledge: - cunning, [ig-] norantly, know(-ledge), [un-] a wares (wittingly).

and discretion...

מְזִמָּה

m^ezimmâh

mez-im-maw'

From to plan, usually in a bad sense; a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity): - (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.