“That prudence may be given to the simple”: “Prudence” renders a word whose basic meaning is “crafty” or “shrewd.” It is used in Gen 3.1 to describe the serpent as “the most cunning animal” (Good News Translation). In Job 5.12 it is used in “the devices of the crafty” which are frustrated by God. However, in Proverbs the sense is more positive, giving the idea of intelligent insight. Good News Translation says “clever” and Contemporary English Version “smart.” New American Bible calls it “resourcefulness,” Scott “sharpen the wits.” In some languages a verbal expression is more natural; for example, “This wise talk can open the thinking of. . ..” Translators should avoid words that include the idea of craftiness or trickery.
“Simple” translates a term referring to persons who are easily influenced for good or for bad because they lack maturity and instruction. Good News Translation calls them “inexperienced,” and Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible has “naive.” In translation it is best to express, if possible, a category of persons who are immature or lacking experience, as the parallel clearly refers to young people. In some languages such people are said to be “unripe” or “the recent born.” Another way of expressing the sense is to say “some [young] people have only a little knowledge.”
“Knowledge and discretion to the youth”: “Knowledge” is the noun form of the verb “to know” used in verse 2, where it is often rendered “acquire wisdom,” “get wisdom,” “obtain wisdom,” or “learn wisdom.” “Knowledge” is experience and attitude as well as information. This knowledge was taught to enable young men to negotiate their way successfully in the world.
“Discretion” renders a term referring to the power or ability to make plans and to see clearly how to reach a goal. In 12.2 and 24.8 the word is used for plotting to do evil acts, but in this verse it is used in a good sense.
“The youth” refers here to a young person and emphasizes again a state of immaturity. However, the age of the person is largely defined by the context. In Exo 2.6 it refers to Moses as an infant; in 2 Kgs 4.29 it is used of the male child of the Shunammite woman. In Jdg 17.7 it refers to a grown man, and in 2 Sam 9.9 to Saul’s male servant, Ziba, who himself had sons. Although some versions (King James Version, New American Bible) render this term by “young man,” others focus on the element of immaturity. Most do not use an expression that is exclusively male; for example, Moffatt, New English Bible, and Revised English Bible say “the young,” Bible en français courant “the young folk,” and Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version “young people.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch may provide a good model for some: “whoever is young and inexperienced.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .