Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 1:4

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

Subtilty (Ormah). —Used in a bad sense (Exodus 21:14) for “guile.” For the meaning here, compare to Matthew 10:16: Be ye wise as serpents; compare also to the reproof of Luke 16:8, that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light; and St. Paul’s advice to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16), i.e., seize opportunities for good.

Simple. —Literally, those who are open to good impressions and influences, but who also can be easily led astray (Proverbs 14:15).

Young man.—The Hebrew term is used of any age from birth to about the twentieth year.

Discretion. —Or rather, thoughtfulness; a word also used in a bad sense in Proverbs 12:2, and there translated “wicked devices.”