Verse 2 is the consequence of verse 1.

“That you may keep discretion”: “Discretion” is used in 1.4; 2.11; 3.21. Here, as there, the word refers to the ability to make wise choices and to use good judgment. Contemporary English Version says “sound judgment.” Note Good News Translation “behave properly.”

“And your lips may guard knowledge”: This line has caused interpreters some difficulty. Some argue that “lips” do not guard or keep knowledge but that they guard speech. They conclude that “lips” has been copied by mistake into verse 2 from verse 3. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates “your lips may guard” as “B”, and recommends that this expression be understood as a contrast with “the lips of a loose woman dripping honey” in the next verse. If we follow the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommendation, this line may be understood as “May your lips guard [watch over] knowledge,” and verse 3 will begin “Don’t be like the loose woman whose lips drip honey.” Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible takes “lips” to mean speech: “Your speech will keep knowledge.” Bible en français courant has “and you will speak with full knowledge.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the whole of verse 2 as “Then you will keep a clear head and will have the necessary wisdom to have the right thing to say.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .