Proverbs Chapter 20 verse 18 Holy Bible

ASV Proverbs 20:18

Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
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BBE Proverbs 20:18

Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
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DARBY Proverbs 20:18

Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
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KJV Proverbs 20:18

Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
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WBT Proverbs 20:18


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WEB Proverbs 20:18

Plans are established by advice; By wise guidance you wage war!
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YLT Proverbs 20:18

Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
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Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 18. - Every purpose is established by counsel (comp. Proverbs 15:22, where see note). The Talmud says, "Even the most prudent of men needs friends' counsels;" and none but the most conceited would deem himself superior to advice, or would fail to allow that, as the Vulgate puts it, cogitationes consillis roborantur. This is true in all relations of life, in great and small matters alike, in peace, and, as our moralist adds, in war. With good advice make war; Vulgate, Gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella; Revised Version, By wise guidance make thou war. The word here used is takebuloth, for which see note, Proverbs 1:5. It is a maritime metaphor, rightly retained by the Vulgate, and might be rendered "pilotings," "steerings." War is a necessary evil, but it must be undertaken prudently and with a due consideration of circumstances, means, etc. Our Lord illustrates the necessity of due circumspection in following him by the case of a threatened conflict between two contending kings (Luke 14:31, etc.). Grotius quotes the gnome - Γνῶμαι πλέον κρατοῦσιν η} σθένος χερῶν. "Titan strength of hands availeth counsel more." To which we may add - Βουλῆς γὰρ ὀρθῆς οὐδὲν ἀσφαλέστερον. . . .

Ellicott's Commentary