2182 verses about Discernment

Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.

Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.

A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.

Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?

The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.

The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.

The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;

Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!

Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.

Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;

for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this”; doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?

lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;

Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

When his speech is charming, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.

The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.

One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.

She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.

I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.

For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?