Proverbs 7:7

and I saw among the naive – I discerned among the youths ¹  – a young man ²  who lacked wisdom. ³ 

I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment.

And I saw among the naive, And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense,

and saw a simpleminded young man who lacked common sense.

Watching the mindless crowd stroll by, I spotted a young man without any sense

I saw among the young men one without sense,

and I saw among the simple ones, I observed among the youths, a young man without sense,

And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding,

and I saw among the naive – I discerned among the youths ¹  – a young man ²  who lacked wisdom. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “sons.”

² tn Heb “lad” or “youth.”

³ tn Heb “heart.”

sn This young man who lacked wisdom is one of the simpletons, lacking keen judgment, one void of common sense (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT) or understanding (cf. KJV, ASV). He is young, inexperienced, featherbrained (so D. Kidner, Proverbs [TOTC], 75).