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Sunday, September 29th, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Proverbs 29:18

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Happiness;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible, the;   Happiness;   Joy-Sorrow;   Word;   Word of God;   The Topic Concordance - Blindness;   Happiness/joy;   Law;   Obedience;   Perishing;   Seeing;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Visions;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Proverbs, Theology of;   Vision(s);   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Vision;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Proverbs, Book of;   Vision;   Wisdom;  

Devotionals:

- My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for May 9;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
Where there is no vision, the people are out of control,But how blessed is he who keeps the law.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When the worde of God is not preached, the people perishe: but well is hym that kepeth the lawe.
Darby Translation
Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.
New King James Version
Where there is no revelation, [fn] the people cast off restraint;But happy is he who keeps the law.
Literal Translation
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained. But blessed is he, the one keeping the law.
Easy-to-Read Version
If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God's law will be happy.
World English Bible
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But one who keeps the law is blessed.
King James Version (1611)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he.
King James Version
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Where no prophet is, there the people perishe: but well is him that kepeth the lawe.
THE MESSAGE
If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
Amplified Bible
Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].
American Standard Version
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Bible in Basic English
Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.
Update Bible Version
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keeps the law, he is happy.
Webster's Bible Translation
Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.
New English Translation
When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!
Contemporary English Version
Without guidance from God law and order disappear, but God blesses everyone who obeys his Law.
Complete Jewish Bible
Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint; but he who keeps Torah is happy.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Where there is no vision, the people decay: but he that keepeth the Lawe, is blessed.
George Lamsa Translation
When the wicked men multiply, the people are ruined; but he who keeps the law, blessed is he.
Hebrew Names Version
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But one who keeps the law is blessed.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
New Life Bible
Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
English Revised Version
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Berean Standard Bible
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
New Revised Standard
Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Where there is no vision, a people is let loose, but, he that keepeth instruction, how happy is he!
Douay-Rheims Bible
When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law, is blessed.
Lexham English Bible
When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.
English Standard Version
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
New American Standard Bible
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law.
New Century Version
Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled, but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
Good News Translation
A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law!
Christian Standard Bible®
Without revelation people run wild, but one who listens to instruction will be happy.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whanne prophesie faylith, the puple schal be distried; but he that kepith the lawe, is blessid.
Revised Standard Version
Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
Young's Literal Translation
Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!

Contextual Overview

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

there: 1 Samuel 3:1, Hosea 4:6, Amos 8:11, Amos 8:12, Matthew 9:36, Romans 10:13-15

perish: or, is made naked, 2 Chronicles 28:19

but: Proverbs 19:16, Psalms 19:11, Psalms 119:2, Luke 11:28, John 13:17, John 14:21-23, James 1:25, Revelation 22:14

Reciprocal: Psalms 147:20 - not dealt so Isaiah 22:1 - of vision

Cross-References

Genesis 29:16
Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel.
Genesis 29:17
There was no sparkle in Leah's eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face.
Genesis 29:20
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
Genesis 29:30
So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.
Genesis 31:41
Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times!
Genesis 34:12
No matter what dowry or gift you demand, I will gladly pay it—just give me the girl as my wife."
2 Samuel 3:14
David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul's son: "Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines."
Hosea 3:2
So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.
Hosea 12:12
Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and there he earned a wife by tending sheep.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Where [there is] no vision, the people perish,.... That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want of persons to administer them; no expounder, as the Septuagint version; or interpreter, as the Arabic. This was the case in the latter end of Eli's life, 1 Samuel 3:1; in Asa's times, and before, 2 Chronicles 15:3; in the Babylonish captivity, Ezekiel 7:26; in the times of Antiochus,

Psalms 74:9; when John the Baptist and Christ first came preaching the word, Matthew 9:36; and now is the case of the Jews, and will be till the time of their conversion. So it was in the Gentile world, before the Gospel was brought into it, Acts 17:30; and so it now is in those places where the seven churches of Asia were; and in all Asia, which once heard the word of the Lord, even all that large country; and now it is not heard at all in it, but covered with Mahometan darkness. And this is the case in all Popish countries, subject to the see of Rome, where the word of God is not preached to the people, nor suffered so much as to be read by them; and even in reformed churches, for the most part, only a little morality is preached, and not the Gospel of Christ; so that here the people are perishing for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6; and when the witnesses will be slain, who now prophesy in sackcloth, there will he an entire stop put to prophesying or preaching for a while; but, when they shall rise, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God, through the ministry of the word. Now, where there is no preaching, men perish in their sins; the word being the ordinary means of grace, of regeneration, conversion, faith, and salvation; without which, men know nothing of Christ, of peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life by him: and where there is preaching, yet it not being of the right kind, there is no spiritual knowledge spread by it, no food for souls under it; they perish with hunger, as the prodigal did, or are in starving and famishing circumstances; no comfort for the people of God, who perish in their comforts under such a ministry, 1 Corinthians 8:11; and poison is spread among others; false doctrine eats as a canker, and destroys souls. Again, where there is right vision and prophecy, or true preaching of the word, and that is despised and neglected, men perish notwithstanding; as the Jews of old, and all deniers and contemners of the word now, Acts 13:41; and this seems to be intended here, as appears by the following clause. The word translated "perish" has various senses, which agree with the text. It may be rendered, "the people become idle", or "cease" s; from the performance of good works, grow dissolute in their manners, and licentious in their practices: or "they become refractory" t; fierce, obstinate, and ungovernable, and rebel against their superiors: or they are "made naked" u; stripped of their ornaments; of their privileges, civil as well as religious, which is often the case where no vision is; as well as of all virtue and morality, and of the blessing and protection of God;

but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he: not the moral law, which no man can keep perfectly, but the law of faith. It may be rendered, "happy is he that observes doctrine" w; the doctrine of the Gospel, where it is preached; that attends to it, values and esteems it, receives it by faith, and with meekness; blessed is he, blessed are his eyes and ears; he sees wondrous things out of this law or doctrine, and he hears and knows the joyful sound, which brings salvation and eternal life unto him!

s יפרע "feriabitur", Montanus. t "Rebellis erit", Pagninus; "retroagitur", Mercerus; "defecit, recedit", Vatablus; "refractarius", Gejerus. u "Nadatur", Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis "denudatur", Cocceius; "cessabit et otiosus erit, deficiet et retrocedit atque denudatur", Baynus. w שמר תורה "qui observat legem", i. e. "verbum Dei", Cocceius; "doctrinam", Amama.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Vision - The word commonly used of the revelation of God’s will made to prophets. Compare Isaiah 1:1; Nahum 1:1.

When prophetic vision fails, obedience to the Law is the best or only substitute for it, both being forms through which divine wisdom is revealed. Very striking in the midst of ethical precepts is this recognition of the need of a yet higher teaching, without which morality passes into worldly prudence or degenerates into casuistry. The “wise man,” the son of David, has seen in the prophets and in their work the condition of true national blessedness. The darkest time in the history of Israel had been when there “was no open vision 1 Samuel 3:1; at such a time the people “perish,” are let loose, “are left to run wild.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 29:18. Where there is no vision — My old MS. Bible, following the Vulgate, translates: Whan prophecye schal failen, the peple schal ben to scatered. Where Divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance.

But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. — Go how it may with others, he shall be safe. So our Lord: "Blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it."


 
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