What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:2?

That you may maintain discretion

– “My son, pay attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my insight, that you may maintain discretion…” (Proverbs 5:1-2).

– Discretion is practical, Spirit-led judgment that guards the heart from sinful entanglements.

• Proverbs 2:11 underscores the promise, “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

• Proverbs 3:21 echoes, “Preserve sound judgment and discretion; do not lose sight of them.”

• Philippians 1:9-10 shows the New-Testament harmony: love is to “abound… in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can approve what is best.”

– Maintaining discretion means:

• Holding God’s wisdom close—daily time in His Word (Psalm 119:105).

• Filtering choices through Scripture before feelings (Psalm 1:1-3).

• Recognizing temptation early, as Proverbs 5 later warns against the adulteress. Staying discreet keeps us out of compromise.

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And your lips may preserve knowledge

– The verse continues, “…and your lips may preserve knowledge.” God’s wisdom isn’t only inward; it overflows in our speech.

• Proverbs 10:11: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.”

• Proverbs 20:15: “Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.”

• James 3:10 reminds us blessing and cursing should not flow from the same mouth.

– Preserving knowledge with our lips involves:

• Speaking truth consistently—no compromise (Ephesians 4:25).

• Teaching and encouraging others (Proverbs 15:7; 2 Timothy 2:2).

• Refusing gossip or coarse joking (Ephesians 5:4).

– When knowledge is “preserved,” it is kept pure, undiluted by culture’s shifting opinions. Our lips become guardians of God’s timeless truth.

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summary

Proverbs 5:2 calls us to keep God’s wisdom active in both thought and speech. By maintaining discretion, we safeguard our hearts and choices. By letting our lips preserve knowledge, we protect and pass on God’s truth to others. A life shaped by these twin commitments becomes a testimony of steady, discerning integrity in a world desperate for both grace and truth.