1:4

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4a to impart prudence to the simple

4b and knowledge and discretion to the young,

1:4a

To impart prudence: In Proverbs the Hebrew word ʿormah, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as prudence, indicates shrewdness or resourcefulness. It refers to a person’s ability to make clever plans to achieve his goals. Some other ways to translate this word are:

shrewdness (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
cleverness
-or-
resourcefulness (New American Bible)

to the simple: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as simple refers to inexperienced, naive people. These people allow themselves to be easily persuaded or led astray into foolish behavior. People who are simple are immature and tend to believe whatever they are told. The Hebrew word used here is plural. Some other ways to translate this word are:

naive/gullible people
-or-
people with little experience
-or-
people who are easily deceived
-or-
people who quickly believe what they hear
-or-
people who do not know anything

1:4b

and knowledge and discretion: There are two ways to interpret the connection between these two nouns:

(1) They are two equal nouns and should be translated with an “and” between them. For example:

knowledge and discernment (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) One noun is subordinate to the other. They are not two equal nouns. For example, the phrase could be translated as:

knowledge of how to be discreet
-or-
how to be resourceful (Good News Translation)

Although no scholars argued against the second option, the few who supported it had differing ideas as to how it should be translated. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

discretion: The Hebrew word mǝzimmah, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as discretion, refers to the ability to make a plan that will accomplish a specific goal. Other ways to translate this word are:

shrewdness (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
discernment (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
ability to think of an effective plan

to the young: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as young can refer to any male from infancy up to early adulthood. However, the setting in Proverbs describes an unmarried teenage son nearing adulthood. If your language has a specific term for unmarried young men, you may be able to use it here. Another way to translate this term is to use a more general expression. For example:

young people (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 1:4a–b

The parallel parts of these two lines should be understood as a unit. So the terms “the simple” and “the young” describe people who are both “simple” and “young.” These terms should not be understood as separate categories of people, with “the simple” gaining “prudence” and “the young” gaining “knowledge and discretion.” If a parallel structure in your language wrongly implies that “the simple” and “the young” gain different benefits from the proverbs, you may need to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts in these lines. For example:

⌊Still another function of these proverbs⌋ is to cause inexperienced young people to gain knowledge and to become resourceful. Then they will be able to make successful plans.

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