Proverbs 2:11
New International Version
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

New Living Translation
Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

English Standard Version
discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

Berean Standard Bible
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

King James Bible
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

New King James Version
Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,

New American Standard Bible
Discretion will watch over you, Understanding will guard you,

NASB 1995
Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,

NASB 1977
Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,

Legacy Standard Bible
Discretion will keep you, Discernment will guard you,

Amplified Bible
Discretion will watch over you, Understanding and discernment will guard you,

Christian Standard Bible
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

American Standard Version
Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:

Contemporary English Version
Sound judgment and good sense will watch over you.

English Revised Version
Discretion shall watch over thee, understanding shall keep thee:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Foresight will protect you. Understanding will guard you.

Good News Translation
Your insight and understanding will protect you

International Standard Version
Discretion will protect you; understanding will watch over you,

Majority Standard Bible
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

NET Bible
Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you,

New Heart English Bible
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

Webster's Bible Translation
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

World English Bible
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thoughtfulness watches over you, "" Understanding keeps you,

Young's Literal Translation
Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee,

Smith's Literal Translation
Meditation shall watch over thee, understanding shall guard thee:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,

Catholic Public Domain Version
then counsel must guard you, and prudence must serve you,

New American Bible
Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you;

New Revised Standard Version
prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Intelligence shall preserve you, and the understanding of the pious men shall deliver you;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A good mind will keep you and the intelligence of the good will deliver you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Discretion shall watch over thee, Discernment shall guard thee;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
good counsel shall guard thee, and holy understanding shall keep thee;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Benefits of Wisdom
10For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul. 11Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you, 12to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,…

Cross References
James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Psalm 119:66
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.

Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Philippians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Ephesians 5:15-17
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, / redeeming the time, because the days are evil. / Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. / The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. / “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

1 Kings 3:9-12
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” / Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. / So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— ...

Psalm 119:125
I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.

Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.


Treasury of Scripture

Discretion shall preserve you, understanding shall keep you:

Proverbs 4:6
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Proverbs 6:22-24
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee…

Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

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Proverbs 2
1. wisdom promises godliness to her children
10. and safety from evil company
20. and direction in good ways














Discretion
The Hebrew word for "discretion" is "mezimmah," which can also be translated as "prudence" or "thoughtfulness." In the context of Proverbs, discretion involves the ability to make wise decisions and to foresee the consequences of one's actions. It is a quality that allows a person to navigate life's complexities with wisdom and care. Discretion is not merely about avoiding trouble but about actively choosing the path of righteousness. In a historical context, discretion was highly valued in ancient Israelite society, as it was seen as a means of maintaining social harmony and personal integrity.

Will protect you
The phrase "will protect you" comes from the Hebrew root "shamar," which means "to guard" or "to keep." This implies a proactive safeguarding, much like a shepherd who watches over his flock. In the biblical sense, protection is not just physical but also moral and spiritual. The wisdom that comes from discretion acts as a shield against the temptations and pitfalls of life. In the broader scriptural context, God's protection is often linked to His covenant promises, where He assures His people of His constant care and guidance.

And understanding
"Understanding" is translated from the Hebrew word "binah," which signifies insight or discernment. It is the ability to see beyond the surface and grasp the deeper truths of a situation. Understanding is a gift from God, as seen in Solomon's request for wisdom to govern Israel (1 Kings 3:9). In the book of Proverbs, understanding is closely associated with the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. It is through understanding that one can discern God's will and live in accordance with His commandments.

Will guard you
The phrase "will guard you" uses the same Hebrew root "shamar" as "will protect you," reinforcing the idea of vigilant oversight. In ancient times, a guard was responsible for the safety and security of a city or a person. Similarly, understanding acts as a sentinel for the soul, keeping it safe from false teachings and moral corruption. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7), highlighting the continuity of this protective theme throughout Scripture.

Verse 11. - Discretion shall preserve thee. Discretion (מְזַמָּת m'zimoth), as in Proverbs 1:4, is the outward manifestation of wisdom; it tests what is uncertain, and avoids danger (Hitzig). The word carries with it the idea of reflection or consideration (see Proverbs 3:21; Proverbs 5:2; Proverbs 8:12) The LXX. reads, βουλὴ καλή, "good counsel;" and the Vulgate, concilium. Shall preserve thee. The idea of protection and guarding, which is predicated of Jehovah in ver. 8, is here transferred to discretion and understanding, which to some extent are put forward as personifications. Understanding (תְבוּנָה, t'vunah), as in Proverbs 2:11; the power of distinguishing and separating, and, in the case of conflicting interests, to decide on the best. Shall keep; i.e. keep safe, or in the sense of watching over or guarding. The two verbs "to preserve" (שָׁמַר shamar) and "to keep" (נָצַר, natsar), LXX. τήρειν, occur together again in Proverbs 4:6.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Discretion
מְ֭זִמָּה (mə·zim·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4209: A plan, evil, sometimes good

will watch over you,
תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר (tiš·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

and understanding
תְּבוּנָ֥ה (tə·ḇū·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8394: Intelligence, an argument, caprice

will guard you,
תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃ (ṯin·ṣə·rek·kāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:11 Discretion will watch over you (Prov. Pro Pr)
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