Verse 14

Without guidance, a nation falls, but victory is found in an abundance of counselors.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 15:22 : 22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
  • Prov 24:6 : 6 For with wise counsel you wage war, and in an abundance of advisers there is victory.
  • Prov 20:18 : 18 Plans are established by counsel; with wise guidance wage your war.
  • 1 Kgs 12:1-9 : 1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all of Israel had come to Shechem to crown him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this—he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon—he remained in Egypt. 3 They sent for him, and Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam. 4 They said to him, "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he placed on us, and we will serve you." 5 Rehoboam replied, "Come back to me in three days," so the people departed. 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was alive. He asked, "How do you advise me to answer these people?" 7 They replied, "If you will serve these people today and grant their request, speaking kind words to them, they will always be your servants." 8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders who had counseled him and instead consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we reply to these people who have said to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father has put on us'?" 10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Here is what you should tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy; now lighten it for us': Tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 Now, my father laid a heavy yoke on you, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips; I will discipline you with scorpions.'" 12 Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had instructed them, saying, "Come back to me on the third day." 13 But the king answered the people harshly, rejecting the advice given to him by the elders. 14 He said to them, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father disciplined you with whips; I will discipline you with scorpions." 15 So the king refused to listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word spoken by the LORD through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: "What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!" So the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. 18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to get into his chariot and flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
  • Prov 16:22 : 22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the discipline of fools is folly.
  • Isa 19:11-14 : 11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; Pharaoh's wisest counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, 'I am a descendant of the wise, a son of ancient kings'? 12 Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and make known what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. 13 The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. They have led Egypt astray, the cornerstone of its tribes. 14 The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of confusion, and they have led Egypt astray in all that it does, like a drunkard staggering in his vomit.
  • Acts 15:6-9 : 6 The apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter. 7 After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose me among you so that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the necks of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are. 12 The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they narrated all the signs and wonders that God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 After they had finished speaking, James responded, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has explained how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: 16 'After these things I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord, who does these things' 18 '—things known long ago.' 19 Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat that has been strangled, and blood. 21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, being read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.