In verse 4 Wisdom makes her appeal to people generally. However, in verse 5 she addresses a particular group, the simple and the foolish, as she did in 1.22.

“O simple ones, learn prudence”: For “O” see 4.1. “Simple ones” in the Hebrew is a masculine plural adjective and refers to people who are immature and inexperienced, as in 1.4 and 1.22. In some languages such people are described as “people whose thinking is like that of children.” “Learn” translates the word used for “understand” and “insight” in 1.2. “Prudence” is as in 1.4, and means “sound judgment,” good sense in practical matters.

“O foolish men, pay attention”: “Foolish men” renders a masculine plural noun (“fools”) as used in 1.32. Revised Standard Version has expressed the masculine form with the word “men”; however, see below. “Pay attention” translates an expression that is literally “understand heart.” The first of these words can mean by itself “pay attention”, but the addition of “heart” confuses the sense. The Septuagint translators seem to have changed one consonant to get “be in heart.” Others take “understand heart” to match “learn prudence” in the first line. Good News Translation provides a good model based on this. Bible en français courant says “You who are foolish, learn to have good sense. You, who are stupid, become intelligent.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “You who are greenhorns [immature], learn to be mature! You who are uneducated, be smart!”

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 .