2182 verses about Discernment

Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.”

The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him.

When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There wasn’t any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on.

I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, then to the dung gate, and inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire.

Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.

Then went I up in the night by the brook, and inspected the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.

The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did. I had not as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.

But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews.

He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned?”

Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubble; so that we are not able to build the wall.”

When the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon.

Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”

They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night will they come to kill you.”

I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God’s house.

Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her.

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.

This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.

Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.

Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”

But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.

Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?

Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?

Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

“Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

He will surely reprove you, if you secretly show partiality.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

What do you know, that we don’t know? What do you understand, which is not in us?

Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.

But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out, to the furthest bound, the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.

That path no bird of prey knows, neither has the falcon’s eye seen it.

He cuts out channels among the rocks. His eye sees every precious thing.

He binds the streams that they don’t trickle. The thing that is hidden he brings out to light.

“But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?

Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?

Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the birds of the sky.

“God understands its way, and he knows its place.

For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole sky.

then he saw it, and declared it. He established it, yes, and searched it out.

But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.

Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.

Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;’

Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;

Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;

“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

I will answer you, and your companions with you.

“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

Teach us what we shall tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?

From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.

“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.

I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.

Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.