And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,

And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,

I saw among the young men one without sense,

And I beheld among the thoughtless ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,

and I see little ones. I consider a frenzied youth,

Simple - In the bad sense of the word (Proverbs 1:22 note); "open" to all impressions of evil, empty-headed and empty-hearted; lounging near the house of ill-repute, not as yet deliberately purposing to sin, but placing himself in the way of it at a time when the pure in heart would seek their home. There is a certain symbolic meaning in the picture of the gathering gloom Proverbs 7:9. Night is falling over the young man's life as the shadows deepen.

Among the simple ones - The inexperienced, inconsiderate young men.
A young man void of understanding - בעל ראשאהץ חסר לב, "destitute of a heart." He had not wisdom to discern the evil intended; nor courage to resist the flatteries of the seducer.

And beheld among the simple ones,.... Such as are easily persuaded and drawn into sin; simple and foolish in things moral and spiritual, and not arrived to any ripeness of understanding in things natural and civil; have seen but little of the world, and know less of religion, and are easily imposed upon and carried away with the company they keep; such simple foolish creatures are the followers of antichrist; see 2-Timothy 3:6;
I discerned among the youths; or "children" (d); at least in understanding, the children Jezebel, Revelation 2:23;
a young man void of understanding; or "wanting a heart" (e); to know and fear the Lord, and not in the way to learn and improve; but in company like himself, and so in a fair way to continue foolish and simple, and destitute of the true understanding of things, and exposed to the snares delusions of such that lie in wait to deceive.
(d) "inter filios", Pagninus, &c. (e) "carentem corde", Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "destitutum corde", Schultens.

simple--as in Proverbs 1:4.
void of, &c.--(Compare Proverbs 6:32).