Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Discretion (in the Biblical sense) means being prudent, circumspect, and judicious (that is, having good or well-reasoned judgment) in one's words or actions; or being modestly unobtrusive in behavior. Exhibiting discretion is considered the opposite of being foolish, rash, or immodest.

As the question indicates by its reference to the book of Proverbs, that particular book of the Bible has multiple positive things to say about exercising discretion, and also speaks negatively of not using it. In addition, other passages in the Bible speak favorably of discretion. 

Among these verses are the following (with my paraphrase of each):

Proverbs 2:11 (Discretion serves to guard the person who exercises it.)

Proverbs 3:21-26 (Discretion will provide safety, and prevent disaster or ruin.)

Proverbs 5:2 (Discretion keeps a man from being caught up in adultery.) 

Proverbs 8:12 (Exercising discretion indicates wisdom.)

Proverbs 11:22 (Lack of discretion can nullify physical beauty.) 

Proverbs 19:11 (Discretion allows a person to be patient and keep his temper.)

Proverbs 22:3 (Discretion lets a person see danger and avoid it.)

Psalm 112:5 (Good will result from acting with discretion.)

1 Chronicles 22:12 (David prays that God will give discretion and understanding to Solomon when he becomes king, so that Solomon may keep God's law.)

Mark 12:34 (Jesus commends a teacher of the law for speaking with discretion.)

September 05 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report