Proverbs 3:21 My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

◄ Proverbs 3:21 ►

New International Version
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;

New Living Translation
My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,

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

Berean Standard Bible
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

King James Bible
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

New King James Version
My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

New American Standard Bible
My son, see that they do not escape from your sight; Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,

NASB 1995
My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

NASB 1977
My son, let them not depart from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Legacy Standard Bible
My son, let them not deviate from your eyes; Guard sound wisdom and discretion,

Amplified Bible
My son, let them not escape from your sight, But keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Christian Standard Bible
Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Maintain your competence and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.

American Standard Version
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

Contemporary English Version
My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind.

English Revised Version
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My son, do not lose sight of these things. Use priceless wisdom and foresight.

Good News Translation
My child, hold on to your wisdom and insight. Never let them get away from you.

International Standard Version
My son, do not let wisdom leave your sight. Carefully observe sound judgment and discernment,

Majority Standard Bible
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

NET Bible
My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.

New Heart English Bible
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

Webster's Bible Translation
My son, let not them depart from thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

World English Bible
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, "" Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,

Young's Literal Translation
My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

Smith's Literal Translation
My son, they shall not depart from thine eyes: keep counsel and meditation:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:

Catholic Public Domain Version
My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.

New American Bible
My son, do not let these slip from your sight: hold to deliberation and planning;

New Revised Standard Version
My child, do not let these escape from your sight: keep sound wisdom and prudence,

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
My son, let not my commandments depart from your eyes; keep my doctrine, and my counsels;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My son, let not your eyes depart from keeping my teaching and my counsels.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My son, let them not pass from thee, but keep my counsel and understanding:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Blessings of Wisdom
…20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew. 21My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment. 22They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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.

Colossians 2:2-3
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, / in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Proverbs 4:5-7
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. / Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. / Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

Proverbs 2:10-11
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul. / Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 8:10-11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. / For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

2 Timothy 3:15
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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,

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. / No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

Proverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

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,

Proverbs 19:8
He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.

Treasury of Scripture

My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

let

Proverbs 3:1-3
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: …

Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: …

keep

Proverbs 2:7
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Deuteronomy 32:46,47
And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law…

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Depart Discernment Discretion Escape Eyes Good Judgment Preserve Purpose Sense Sight Sound Thoughtfulness Turn Vanish Wisdom Wise

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Depart Discernment Discretion Escape Eyes Good Judgment Preserve Purpose Sense Sight Sound Thoughtfulness Turn Vanish Wisdom Wise

Proverbs 3

1. various exhortations
13. The gain of wisdom
27. Exhortation to goodness
33. the different state of the wicked and upright

Berean Study Bible

My son
This phrase is a tender address, often used in Proverbs, indicating a personal and intimate relationship between the speaker and the listener. In Hebrew, "בְּנִי" (beni) is used, which conveys a sense of care and authority, as a father instructs his child. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as a loving Father who imparts wisdom to His children, urging them to heed His guidance.

do not lose sight of this
The Hebrew root for "lose sight" is "אַל־יָלֻזוּ" (al-yalu), which means to not let something escape or slip away. This phrase emphasizes the importance of vigilance and constant attention. In the context of Proverbs, it suggests that wisdom and understanding are treasures that require active maintenance and focus. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern tradition of oral teaching, where wisdom was passed down through careful listening and memorization.

Preserve
The word "preserve" in Hebrew is "נְצֹר" (natsor), which means to guard or keep watch over. This implies an active role in maintaining what is valuable. In a biblical context, it suggests that wisdom and discernment are not just to be acquired but also to be protected and nurtured. This aligns with the conservative Christian view that believers are called to guard their hearts and minds against worldly influences that could lead them astray.

sound judgment
The Hebrew term for "sound judgment" is "תֻּשִׁיָּה" (tushiyyah), which refers to wisdom, resourcefulness, or effective counsel. It implies a depth of understanding that leads to prudent decision-making. In the biblical narrative, sound judgment is often associated with righteousness and the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This reflects the conservative Christian belief in the importance of aligning one's decisions with God's will.

and discernment
The Hebrew word for "discernment" is "מְזִמָּה" (mezimmah), which can mean discretion, prudence, or the ability to see beyond the surface. Discernment involves distinguishing between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. In the scriptural context, it is a gift from God that enables believers to navigate the complexities of life with spiritual insight. This aligns with the conservative Christian emphasis on seeking divine guidance through prayer and the study of Scripture to develop a discerning heart.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - My son, let not them depart from thine eyes. After the description of the power of Wisdom exhibited in creating and sustaining the earth, the exhortation to keep Wisdom steadily before the eyes, and the promises of Divine protection, appropriately follow. Since Wisdom is so powerful, then, the teacher argues, she is worthy of being retained and guarded, and able to protect. Let them not depart (al-yaluzu); i.e. "let them not escape or slip aside from your mind (cf. Vulgate, ne effluant haec ab oculis ruts). They are to be as frontiers between your eyes, as a ring upon your finger. Yaluzu, from luz, "to bend aside," defiectere, a via declinare, which see in Proverbs 2:15, ought probably to be written yellezu, on the analogy of the corresponding passage in Proverbs 4:21. The LXX. renders absolutely μὴ παραῥῤύης, "do not thou pass by," from παραῥῤύω, "to flow by," "to pass by, recede" (cf. Hebrews 2:1, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to these things, lest at any time we should let them slip (μὴ ποτε παραῥῤυῶμεν)," quoted probably from the LXX. of this passage). The Targum Jonathan reads ne vilescat, "let it," i.e. wisdom, "not become worthless." Them, included in the verb yaluzu of which it is subject in the original, is to be referred either to "sound wisdom and discretion" of ver. 21b - so Gejerus, Cartwright, Geier, Umbreit, Hitzig, Zockter, Plumptre (a similar trajection occurs in Deuteronomy 32:5, and is used, as here, to give vividness to the description): or to "wisdom, understanding, knowledge," of the preceding verses - so Delitzsch and Holden. The first view in every way seems preferable, and it is no objection to it that "sound wisdom" (tushiyyah) and "discretion" (m'yimmah) are feminine, while the verb "depart" (yaluzu) is masculine (see Gesenius, *Gram.,' § 147). The Syriac reads, "Let it not become worthless (ne vile fit) in thine eyes to keep my doctrine and my counsels." Keep sound wisdom and discretion. Keep; n'zor, kal imperative of natsar, "to watch, guard." For "sound wisdom" (tushiyyah), see Proverbs 2:7. Here used for "wisdom" (kokhmah), as "discretion" (m'zimmah) for "understanding" (t'vunah), to contrast the absolute wisdom and insight of God with the corresponding attributes in man (see Zockler, in loc.). They belong to God, but are conferred on those who seek after Wisdom, and are then to be guarded as priceless treasures. The Vulgate reads, custodi legem et consilium; and the LXX., τήρησον δὲ ἐμὴν βουλὴν καὶ ἔννοιαν, "guard my counsel and thought."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

My son,
בְּ֭נִי (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

lose
יָלֻ֣זוּ (yā·lu·zū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3868: To turn aside, to depart, be perverse

sight of this:
מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ (mê·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-m | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

Preserve
נְצֹ֥ר (nə·ṣōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep

sound judgment
תֻּ֝שִׁיָּ֗ה (tu·šî·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8454: Support, ability, help, an undertaking, understanding

and discernment.
וּמְזִמָּֽה׃ (ū·mə·zim·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4209: A plan, evil, sometimes good

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 3:21 My son let them not depart (Prov. Pro Pr)