Proverbs 1:4

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Subtilty for the simple

The word is sometimes taken in an ill sense, for a crafty wit to deceive others. Sometimes in a good sense, for understanding to prevent dangers that crafty men might bring upon us. So it is taken here. Compare “simple” with the Latin “fatuus,” a fool. Simple comes from a verb which signifies to allure or seduce one that wants understanding of God’s truths and will, and so is easily allured to any error or wickedness by good words, as giving credit everything, because not able to examine things for want of judgment. He falls into danger for lack of knowledge. The word also signifies one who wants foresight to prevent danger.

1. The Scripture contains a store of heavenly knowledge sufficient to inform simple persons. Note the store of heavenly mysteries in the Scripture; the clearness of them; the variousness of them.

2. Subtilty for preventing of dangers is best learned out of the Scriptures.

3. We are naturally simple, and easily led into error.

4. The way to keep us from errors is the right understanding of Scripture.

5. Most danger of going astray is in the time of youth.

6. Bare knowledge is not enough, but discretion must be laboured for also. Knowledge is imperfect, and will need further augmentation by deliberation. And knowing men do things rashly oftentimes, being disturbed with passion. (Francis Taylor.)

Good subtilty

This term suggests the very point of Solomon’s advice. The young man who comes from a quiet home, where he has been under wise guidance, is really simple, unsophisticated, unused to the ways of the world, unfit to meet its temptations, and needing much good counsel and warning from those who are experienced in the world’s ways. “Simple” here is not “silly,” but guileless, unsuspecting, easily drawn aside, over-trustful. It is familiarly said that “experience is a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.” Solomon urges on the young man that if he would be willing to learn, he might be saved from many bitter and even degrading experiences. There is an evil sense attaching to the word “subtilty,” from its association with the serpent that tempted Eve; but the better meaning of the word comes to view through Solomon’s connecting it with other good and suggestive terms. He thinks that the young man, at the very outset of life, needs “wisdom,” which we may take in the general sense of “culture”; an “instruction,” that is, “discipline,” “training,” and “understanding,” or the power of weighing, distinguishing, discriminating: and “wisdom,” in the further sense of “thoughtfulness,” the habit of looking things well round before we decide on our action. Impulsiveness is a constant weakness in young people. They act before they think. And “Justice,” or the first principles of righteousness, by which all proposed conduct should be appraised, and “judgment,” or the self-estimating which is virtually the same as a cultured and active “conscience,” and “equity,” or the various adjustment of “principles” to the different relationships of men, and the various circumstances in which they may be placed; and “discretion,” or that kind of reticence which keeps the young man from being duped by false advisers.

1. Expect subtilty in those who would tempt you astray. Here the word takes its bad form, as crafty, designing, making good appearance in order to deceive; keeping back part of the truth: and so leaving a designedly false impression. See temptation of Eve. There is a good “suspiciousness,” which is a safeguard.

2. Show subtilty in not readily yielding to the tempters. Here the word is used in a good sense. Be on your guard. Do not give your love to the first person who seeks it. Beware of the plausible man, and the flatterers. Be forewarned and so you will be forearmed. Keep your own counsel. See underneath, and do not be caught by mere outside glitter. (Robert Tuck, B. A.)

The simple man

Plato wrote on the door of his academy,” Let no man unskilled in geometry come hither.” Solomon writes the very reverse on the door of his school, “Let the simple man come hither.” (G. Lawson, D. D.)

Discretion

There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none more useful than discretion; it is this, indeed, which gives a value to all the rest, which sets them at work in their proper times and places, and turns them to the advantage of the person who is possessed of them. Without it, learning is pedantry, and wit impertinence; virtue itself looks like weakness; the best parts only qualify a man to be more sprightly in his errors, and active to his own prejudice. (W. Addison.)

Discretion

A father that had three sons was desirous to try their discretion, which he did by giving to each of them an apple that had some part of it rotten. The first eats up his apple, rotten and all; the second throws all his away, because some part of it was rotten; but the third picks out the rotten, and eats that which was good, so that he appeared the wisest: thus, some in these days, for want of discretion, swallow down all that is presented, rotten and sound altogether; others throw away all truth, because everything delivered unto them is not truth, but surely they are the wisest and most discreet, that know how to try the spirits whether they be of God or not--how to choose the good and refuse the evil. (J. Spencer.)