What Does the Bible Say About Discretion?

Proverbs 3:21 ESV / 80 helpful votes

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Proverbs 11:22 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Proverbs 5:2 ESV / 49 helpful votes

That you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.

Proverbs 2:11 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

Proverbs 22:3 ESV / 38 helpful votes

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 19:11 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 1:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Psalm 112:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Proverbs 8:12 ESV / 19 helpful votes

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Proverbs 29:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Genesis 41:33 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

Jeremiah 10:12 ESV / 12 helpful votes

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Proverbs 4:20-24 ESV / 12 helpful votes

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Isaiah 28:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.

Proverbs 16:22 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 10 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Proverbs 1:2-6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Hebrews 11:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Proverbs 8:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

Proverbs 4:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

Proverbs 2:1-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. ...

Joshua 1:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Proverbs 3:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Titus 2:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Proverbs 7:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,

1 Samuel 25:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.

Luke 22:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes

He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Mark 12:34 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Psalm 8:4-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

1 Chronicles 22:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God.

1 Samuel 25:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!

Genesis 41:39 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Peter 5:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

James 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Ezekiel 18:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Jeremiah 4:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.

Isaiah 45:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

Isaiah 2:1-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. ...

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 5:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Daniel 5:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.

Isaiah 51:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?

Proverbs 28:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Proverbs 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

Job 26:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.

Exodus 21:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

61 Bible Verses about Discretion

Proverbs 3:21 ESV / 80 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:22 ESV / 78 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 5:2 ESV / 49 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 2:11 ESV / 40 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:3 ESV / 38 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:11 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 112:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:12 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 41:33 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 10:12 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 4:20-24 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 28:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:22 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:2-6 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 4:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 2:1-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Joshua 1:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 3:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 2:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 7:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 25:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 22:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 12:34 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 8:4-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Chronicles 22:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 25:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 41:39 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 18:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 4:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 45:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 2:1-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 1:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Daniel 5:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 51:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 28:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Job 26:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 21:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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