Amplified Bible
Proverbs 29:18
18Where 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].
Proverbs 29:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
- New International Version (NIV)Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
Context of Proverbs 29:18
16When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, But the righteous will see the downfall of the wicked. 17Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; Yes, he will delight your soul. 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]. 19A servant will not be corrected by words alone; For though he understands, he will not respond [nor pay attention]. 20Do you see a [conceited] man who speaks quickly [offering his opinions or answering without thinking]? There is more hope for a [thickheaded] fool than for him.
Read all of Proverbs 29Proverbs 29:18 word by word
בְּאֵ֣ין חָ֭זוֹן יִפָּ֣רַֽע עָ֑ם וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 29:18
- 1 Samuel 3:1Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the Lord under the supervision of Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.
- Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
- Amos 8:11“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “When I will send hunger over the land, Not hunger for bread or a thirst for water, But rather [a hunger] for hearing the words of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Romans 10:13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.”
- 2 Chronicles 28:19For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for Ahaz had allowed unrestrained and undisciplined behavior in Judah and had been very unfaithful to the Lord.
- Proverbs 19:16He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the Lord] keeps (guards) his own life, But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die.
- Psalms 19:11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward.
- Psalms 119:2Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.
- Luke 11:28But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”
- John 13:17If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].
- John 14:21The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].”
- James 1:25But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].
- Revelation 22:14Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Commentaries on Proverbs 29:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Where 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Vision - 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 How bare does a place look without Bibles and ministers! and what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls! That gospel is an open vision, which holds forth Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Saviour, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation: and these are precious truths to keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Wise people follow God's law, which shows His will.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. no vision--instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions (1Sa 3:1). people perish--(Compare Margin), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law--has, and observes, instruction (Pr 14:11, 34; Psa 19:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 29:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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