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Your Guardian

Proverbs 2:11 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹¹Discretion* will keep watch over you,
understanding will watch over you,

* Or thinking ability; the ability to give wise and careful attention (study) of a matter, based on accurate or full knowledge

Wisdom is a foundation for good discretion (thinking ability). Discretion (thinking ability): (Heb. mezimmah) In the evil sense, this can mean wicked plans, evil ideas, schemes, and devices. In the favorable sense, it can mean shrewdness, perceptiveness, discretion, and prudence. In the favorable sense, it is the ability to judge wisely and objectively. Mezimmah, therefore, the human mind and thoughts can be used for an admirable and upright end, or for evil purposes. (Ps 10:2; Prov. 1:4; 2:10-12; 5:1-2.) The truth is a result of our knowledge, wisdom, discernment, and discretion (thinking ability), which serves as the protector of all evil, watching over you like a guardian. (Cf. Ps. 119:11, 97–104).

Understanding is when one has the capability to see how the elements or aspects of something are comparable to one another, to see the whole matter and not just detached facts. The Hebrew root verb (bin) has the fundamental meaning “separate” or “distinguish,” and it is frequently rendered “understand” or “discern.” It is similar to the Greek (sy·ni′e·mi). Hence, at Acts 28:26, which quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, it could be said that the Jews, “You will keep on hearing and will never understand, and you will keep on seeing and will never perceive,” i.e., they were unable to put it together. They were unable to grasp how the points that were being made or the thoughts were related, namely, how they fit together, so as to mean something to them. Proverbs 9:10, in saying that “knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” shows that true understanding of anything requires an appreciation of its relation to God and his will and purposes.