57 Bible Verses about Discernment

They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.

I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.

Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous;
And the wisdom of their wise men will perish,
And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.

So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

“He deprives the trusted ones of speech
And takes away the discernment of the elders.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble in them.

Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

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

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
Cease from your consideration of it.

And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?

He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.

I am Your servant; give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.

The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

“They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.

Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,

“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.

A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.

“For they are a nation lacking in counsel,
And there is no understanding in them.

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

But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’

You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?

But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.

On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.

So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;

Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.