Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 1:4

"To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:" — Proverbs 1:4 (ASV)

This 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 highest moral gifts (Matthew 10:16); the “knowledge” of good and evil; and the “discretion,” or discernment, which sets a person on guard and keeps them from being duped by false advisers.

The Septuagint renderings, πανουργία (panourgia) for “subtilty,” αἴσθησις (aisthēsis) for “knowledge,” and ἔννοια (ennoia) for “discretion,” are interesting as they show the endeavor to find exact parallels for the Hebrew in the terminology of Greek ethics.