2182 verses about Discernment

Yahweh said to me, “Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.

Ask counsel of every man who is wise, and don’t despise any counsel that is profitable.

He went to seek a man, and found Raphael who was an angel;

and he didn’t know it. He said to him, “Can I go with you to Rages of Media? Do you know those places well?”

And the angel said to him, “Cut the fish open, and take the heart, the liver, and the gall, and keep them with you.”

The young man said to the angel, “Brother Azarias, of what use is the heart, the liver, and the gall of the fish?”

But as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the ashes of the incense, and put the heart and the liver of the fish on them, and made smoke with them.

Surely I will keep nothing closed from you. I have said, ‘It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but to reveal gloriously the works of God.’

He called together all his servants and all his great men, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of all the land out of his own mouth.

and he said to them, “Tell me now, you sons of Canaan, who are these people who dwell in the hill country? What are the cities that they inhabit? How large is their army? Where is their power and their strength? What king is set over them, to be the leader of their army?

Why have they turned their backs, that they should not come and meet me, more than all that dwell in the west?”

Then Achior, the leader of all the children of Ammon, said to him, “Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of your servant, and I will tell you the truth concerning these people who dwell in this hill country, near to the place where you dwell. No lie will come out of the mouth of your servant.

And now, my lord and master, if there is any error in this people, and they sin against their God, we will consider what this thing is in which they stumble, and we will go up and overcome them.

And when the disturbance of the men that were around the council had ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Asshur said to Achior and to all the children of Moab before all the people of the foreigners,

For you will not find the depth of the heart of man, and you will not perceive the things that he thinks. How will you search out God, who has made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose? No, my kindred, don’t provoke the Lord our God to anger!

and said to them, “Command that they open the gate of the city for me, and I will go out to accomplish the things you spoke with me about.” And they commanded the young men to open to her, as she had spoken;

I am coming into the presence of Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth. I will show him a way that he can go and win all the hill country, and there will not be lacking of his men one person, nor one life.”

And there was great excitement throughout all the camp, for her coming was reported among the tents. They came and surrounded her as she stood outside Holofernes’ tent, until they told him about her.

They marveled at her beauty, and marveled at the children of Israel because of her. Each one said to his neighbor, “Who would despise this people, that have among them such women? For it is not good that one man of them be left, seeing that, if they are let go, they will be able to deceive the whole earth.

For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It has been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.

And now as concerning the matter which Achior spoke in your council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you.

Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it.

For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I will stay with you, and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins.

Then I will come and show it also to you. Then you shall go out with all your army, and there will be none of them that will resist you.

Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marveled at her wisdom, and said,

And Judith said, “I will not eat of it, lest there be an occasion of stumbling: but provision will be made for me of the things that have come with me.”

For now is the time to help your inheritance, and to do the thing that I have purposed to the destruction of the enemies which have risen up against us.

She came to the rail of the bed, which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down his scimitar from there.

And as the Lord lives, who preserved me in my way that I went, my countenance deceived him to his destruction, and he did not commit sin with me, to defile and shame me.”

But when no one listened to him, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him cast upon the threshold dead, and his head had been taken from him.

But wnen the children of Israel heard, they all fell upon them with one accord, and struck them to Chobai. Yes, and in like manner also they of Jerusalem and of all the hill country came (for men had told them about what happened in their enemies’ camp), and those who were in Gilead and in Galilee fell upon their flank with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and its borders.

[In the second year of the reign of Ahasuerus the great king, on the first day of Nisan, Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Jew dwelling in the city Susa, a great man, serving in the king’s palace, saw a vision. Now he was of the captivity which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried captive from Jerusalem, with Jeconiah the king of Judea. This was his dream: Behold, voices and a noise, thunders and earthquake, tumult upon the earth. And, behold, two great serpents came out, both ready for conflict. A great voice came from them. Every nation was prepared for battle by their voice, even to fight against the nation of the just. Behold, a day of darkness and blackness, tribulation and anguish, affection and tumult upon the earth. And all the righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own afflictions. They prepared to die, and cried to God. Something like a great river from a little spring with much water, came from their cry. Light and the sun arose, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the honorable. Mordecai, who had seen this vision and what God desired to do, having arisen, kept it in his heart, and desired by all means to interpret it, even until night. Mordecai rested quietly in the palace with Gabatha and Tharrha the king’s two chamberlains, eunuchs who guarded the palace. He heard their conversation and searched out their plans. He learned that they were preparing to lay hands on king Ahasuerus; and he informed the king concerning them. The king examined the two chamberlains. They confessed, and were led away and executed. The king wrote these things for a record. Mordecai also wrote concerning these matters. The king commanded Mordecai to serve in the palace, and gave gifts for this service. But Haman the son of Hammedatha the Bougean was honored in the sight of the king, and he endeavored to harm Mordecai and his people, because of the king’s two chamberlains.] And it came to pass after these things in the days of Ahasuerus, —(this Ahasuerus ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India)—

Let the woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the king; and he did so.

She enters in the evening, and in the morning she departs to the second women’s apartment, where Hegai the king’s chamberlain is keeper of the women. She doesn’t go in to the king again, unless she is called by name.

Two chamberlains of the king, the chiefs of the body-guard, were grieved, because Mordecai was promoted; and they sought to kill king Ahasuerus.

And the matter was discovered by Mordecai, and he made it known to Esther, and she declared to the king the matter of the conspiracy.

So Esther called for her chamberlain Hathach, who waited upon her; and she sent to learn the truth from Mordecai.

And he found the records written concerning Mordecai, how he had told the king concerning the two chamberlains of the king, when they were keeping guard, and sought to lay hands on Ahasuerus.

Love righteousness, you⌃ that be judges of the earth, Think you⌃ of the Lord with a good mind, And in singleness of heart seek you⌃ him;

For a holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit. And will start away from thoughts that are without understanding, And will be put to confusion when unrighteousness has come in.

For in the midst of his counsels the ungodly will be searched out; And the sound of his words will come to the Lord To bring to conviction his lawless deeds:

Because there is an ear of jealousy that listens to all things, And the noise of murmurings is not hid.

He became to us a reproof of our thoughts.

Thus reasoned they, and they were led astray; For their wickedness blinded them,

He was caught away, lest wickedness should change his understanding, Or guile deceive his soul.

For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, And will not understand what the Lord purposed concerning him, And for what he safely kept him:—

Wisdom is radiant and fades not away; And easily is she saw those who love her, And found of those who seek her.

She forestalleth those who desire to know her, making herself first known.

For to think upon her is perfectness of understanding, And he that watches for her sake will quickly be free from care.

Because she goes about, herself seeking those who are worthy of her, And in their paths she appears to them graciously, And in every purpose she meets them.

But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare, And I will not hide mysteries from you; But I will trace her out from the beginning of creation, And bring the knowledge of her into clear light, And I will not pass by the truth;

But to me may God give to speak with judgement, And to conceive thoughts worthy of what has been given me; Because himself is one that guideth even wisdom and that correcteth the wise.

For himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, To know the constitution of the world, and the operation of the elements;

All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,

For she that is the architect of all things taught me, even wisdom. For there is in her a spirit quick of understanding, holy, Alone in kind, manifold, Subtil, freely moving, Clear in utterance, unpolluted, Distinct, unharmed, Loving what is good, keen, unhindered,

Beneficent, loving toward man, Stedfast, sure, free from care, All-powerful, all-surveying, And penetrating through all spirits That are quick of understanding, pure, most subtle:

For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; Yes, she pervadeth and penetrateth all things by reason of her pureness.

For she is initiated into the knowledge of God, And she chooseth out for him his works.

And if a man longeth even for much experience, She knows the things of old, and divineth the things to come: She understands subtleties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings: She foresees signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.

I will be found of a quick conceit when I give judgement, And in the presence of princes I will be admired.

When I am silent, they will wait for me; And when I open my lips, they will give heed to me; And if I continue speaking, they will lay their hand upon their mouth.

Give me wisdom, her that sits by you on your throne; And reject me not from among your servants:

For even if a man be perfect among the sons of men, Yet if the wisdom that comes from you be not with him, he will be held in no account.

And with you is wisdom, which knows your works, And was present when you were making the world, And which understands what is pleasing in your eyes, And what is right according to your commandments.

For she knows all things and has understanding thereof, And in my doings she will guide me in ways of soberness, And she will guard me in her glory.

For what man will know the counsel of God? Or who will conceive what the Lord willeth?

And hardly do we divine the things that are on earth, And the things that are close at hand we find with labor; But the things that are in the heavens who ever yet traced out?

And who ever gained knowledge of your counsel, except you gave wisdom, And sent your holy spirit from on high?

For through the sufferings whereat they were indignant, Being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods, They saw, and recognized as the true God him whom before they refused to know: Wherefore also the last end of condemnation came upon them.

For verily all men by nature were but vain who had no perception of God, And from the good things that are seen they gained not power to know him that is, Neither by giving heed to the works did they recognize the architect;

For the dreams, perturbing them, did foreshew this, That they might not perish without knowing why they were afflicted.

Wisdom has been created before all things, And the understanding of prudence from everlasting.

To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed? And who has known her shrewd counsels?

He both saw and counted her; He rained down skill and knowledge of understanding, And exalted the honor of those who hold her fast.

He will hide his words for a season, And the lips of many will tell forth his understanding.

Seek not things that are too hard for you, And search not out things that are above your strength.

The things that have been commanded you, think thereupon; For you have no need of the things that are secret.

Be not over busy in your superfluous works: For more things are showed to you than men can understand.

For the conceit of many has led them astray; And evil surmising has caused their judgement to slip.

The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; And the ear of a listener is the desire of a wise man.

Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; And be not ashamed concerning your soul.

Refrain not speech, when it tendeth to safety; And hide not your wisdom for the sake of fair-seeming.

For by speech wisdom will be known; And instruction by the word of the tongue.

Be not hasty in your tongue, And in your deeds slack and remiss.

Winnow not with every wind, And walk not in every path: Thus does the sinner that has a double tongue.

Be stedfast in your understanding; And let your word be one.

If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; And if not, let your hand be upon your mouth.

In a great matter and in a small, be not ignorant;

Let those that are at peace with you be many; But your counselors one of a thousand.

If you would get you a friend, get him by proving, And be not in haste to trust him.

For wisdom is according to her name; and she is not manifest to many.

My son, if you will, you shall be instructed; And if you will yield your soul, you will be prudent.

Stand you in the multitude of the elders; And whoso is wise, cleave you to him.

Be willing to listen to every godly discourse; And don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.

Jest not with a rude man, Lest your ancestors be dishonored.

Neglect not the discourse of the wise, And be conversant with their proverbs; For of them you will learn instruction, And how to minister to great men.

Rise not up from the presence of an insolent man, Lest he lie in wait as an ambush for your mouth.

Go not in the way with a rash man, Lest he be aggrieved with you; For he will do according to his own will, And you will perish with his folly.

Take not counsel with a fool; For he will not be able to conceal the matter.