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Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
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THE MESSAGE
Proverbs 21:22
One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers— their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
A wise person went up against a city of warriorsand brought down its secure fortress.
A wise person went up against a city of warriorsand brought down its secure fortress.
Hebrew Names Version
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
King James Version
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
English Standard Version
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
New American Standard Bible
A wise person scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise person scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
New Century Version
A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors and tear down the defenses they trust in.
A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors and tear down the defenses they trust in.
Amplified Bible
A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
World English Bible
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
Geneva Bible (1587)
A wise man goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
Legacy Standard Bible
A wise man goes up to the city of the mightyAnd brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man goes up to the city of the mightyAnd brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
Berean Standard Bible
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
Contemporary English Version
One wise person can defeat a city full of soldiers and capture their fortress.
One wise person can defeat a city full of soldiers and capture their fortress.
Complete Jewish Bible
A wise man can go up into a city of warriors and undermine the strength in which it trusts.
A wise man can go up into a city of warriors and undermine the strength in which it trusts.
Darby Translation
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Easy-to-Read Version
A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors and tear down the defenses they trust in.
A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors and tear down the defenses they trust in.
George Lamsa Translation
A wise man scales the defenses of the city of mighty men and conquers the stronghold in which they trusted.
A wise man scales the defenses of the city of mighty men and conquers the stronghold in which they trusted.
Good News Translation
A shrewd general can take a city defended by strong men, and destroy the walls they relied on.
A shrewd general can take a city defended by strong men, and destroy the walls they relied on.
Lexham English Bible
To a city of warriors, the wise ascends, and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.
To a city of warriors, the wise ascends, and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.
Literal Translation
A wise one ascends the city of the mighty and topples the strength in which it trusts.
A wise one ascends the city of the mighty and topples the strength in which it trusts.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
A wyse man wynneth the cite of the mightie, and as for the strength yt they trust in, he bryngeth it downe.
A wyse man wynneth the cite of the mightie, and as for the strength yt they trust in, he bryngeth it downe.
American Standard Version
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Bible in Basic English
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
King James Version (1611)
A wise man scaleth the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man scaleth the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
A wyse man skaleth the citie of the mightie, & ouerthroweth the strength wherein they trusted.
A wyse man skaleth the citie of the mightie, & ouerthroweth the strength wherein they trusted.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
English Revised Version
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
A wijs man stiede `in to the citee of stronge men, and distriede the strengthe of trist therof.
Update Bible Version
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Webster's Bible Translation
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of its confidence.
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of its confidence.
New English Translation
The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.
The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.
New King James Version
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.
New Living Translation
The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.
The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.
New Life Bible
A wise man goes over the city walls of the powerful, and brings down the strong-place in which they trust.
A wise man goes over the city walls of the powerful, and brings down the strong-place in which they trust.
New Revised Standard
One wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.
One wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.
The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Revised Standard Version
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
Young's Literal Translation
A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
Contextual Overview
22 One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers— their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
2 Samuel 20:16-22, Ecclesiastes 7:19, Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
Reciprocal: Proverbs 24:5 - A wise Ecclesiastes 9:16 - Wisdom Daniel 2:23 - who hast
Cross-References
Genesis 20:17
Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his maidservants, and they started having babies again. For God had shut down every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his maidservants, and they started having babies again. For God had shut down every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Genesis 26:26
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his advisor and Phicol the head of his troops. Isaac asked them, "Why did you come to me? You hate me; you threw me out of your country."
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his advisor and Phicol the head of his troops. Isaac asked them, "Why did you come to me? You hate me; you threw me out of your country."
Genesis 26:28
They said, "We've realized that God is on your side. We'd like to make a deal between us—a covenant that we maintain friendly relations. We haven't bothered you in the past; we treated you kindly and let you leave us in peace. So— God 's blessing be with you!"
They said, "We've realized that God is on your side. We'd like to make a deal between us—a covenant that we maintain friendly relations. We haven't bothered you in the past; we treated you kindly and let you leave us in peace. So— God 's blessing be with you!"
Genesis 30:27
Laban said, "If you please, I have learned through divine inquiry that God has blessed me because of you." He went on, "So name your wages. I'll pay you."
Laban said, "If you please, I have learned through divine inquiry that God has blessed me because of you." He went on, "So name your wages. I'll pay you."
Joshua 3:7
God said to Joshua, "This very day I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all Israel. They'll see for themselves that I'm with you in the same way that I was with Moses. You will command the priests who are carrying the Chest of the Covenant: ‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan's waters, stand there on the river bank.'"
God said to Joshua, "This very day I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all Israel. They'll see for themselves that I'm with you in the same way that I was with Moses. You will command the priests who are carrying the Chest of the Covenant: ‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan's waters, stand there on the river bank.'"
2 Chronicles 1:1
Solomon son of David took a firm grip on the reins of his kingdom. God was with him and gave him much help. Solomon addressed all Israel—the commanders and captains, the judges, every leader, and all the heads of families. Then Solomon and the entire company went to the worship center at Gibeon—that's where the Tent of Meeting of God was, the one that Moses the servant of God had made in the wilderness. The Chest of God, though, was in Jerusalem—David had brought it up from Kiriath Jearim, prepared a special place for it, and pitched a tent for it. But the Bronze Altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon, in its place before the Tabernacle of God ; and that is where Solomon and the congregation gathered to pray. Solomon worshiped God at the Bronze Altar in front of the Tent of Meeting; he sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on it.
Solomon son of David took a firm grip on the reins of his kingdom. God was with him and gave him much help. Solomon addressed all Israel—the commanders and captains, the judges, every leader, and all the heads of families. Then Solomon and the entire company went to the worship center at Gibeon—that's where the Tent of Meeting of God was, the one that Moses the servant of God had made in the wilderness. The Chest of God, though, was in Jerusalem—David had brought it up from Kiriath Jearim, prepared a special place for it, and pitched a tent for it. But the Bronze Altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon, in its place before the Tabernacle of God ; and that is where Solomon and the congregation gathered to pray. Solomon worshiped God at the Bronze Altar in front of the Tent of Meeting; he sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on it.
Isaiah 45:14
God says: "The workers of Egypt, the merchants of Ethiopia, and those statuesque Sabeans Will all come over to you—all yours. Docile in chains, they'll follow you, Hands folded in reverence, praying before you: ‘Amazing! God is with you! There is no other God—none.'"
God says: "The workers of Egypt, the merchants of Ethiopia, and those statuesque Sabeans Will all come over to you—all yours. Docile in chains, they'll follow you, Hands folded in reverence, praying before you: ‘Amazing! God is with you! There is no other God—none.'"
Zechariah 8:23
A Message from God -of-the-Angel-Armies: "At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, ‘Let us go with you. We've heard that God is with you.'"
A Message from God -of-the-Angel-Armies: "At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, ‘Let us go with you. We've heard that God is with you.'"
Romans 8:31
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Hebrews 13:5
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
Gill's Notes on the Bible
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty,.... Which makes good what is elsewhere said, that "wisdom is better than strength", Ecclesiastes 9:16; and sometimes more is done by prudence and wisdom, by art and cunning, by schemes and stratagems, than by power and force; especially in military affairs, and particularly in besieging and taking fortified cities; when one wise man, by his wisdom, may so order and manage things, as to be able, with a few under his command, to mount the walls of a city and take it, though defended by a mighty garrison in it. This may be applied to, our Lord Jesus Christ entering into the city of a man's heart, possessed by the strong man armed; overcoming him, taking from him his armour, and dividing his spoil,
Luke 11:21; compare with this Ecclesiastes 9:14;
and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof; the strong walls, bulwarks, and such fortifications, in which the mighty in the city placed their confidence: and the like does Christ, when he enters into the heart of a sinner by his word and spirit; he destroys all its former strong confidences, and brings it into subjection to himself,
2 Corinthians 10:4.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Even in war, counsel does more than brute strength. So of the warfare which is carried on in the inner battlefield of the soul. There also wisdom is mighty to the “pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, where Paul uses the very words of the Septuagint Version of this passage), and the wise man scales and keeps the city which the strong man armed has seized and made his own.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 21:22. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty — Wisdom is in many respects preferable to strength, even in the case of defence. See what skill does in the fortification and reduction of strong places.
