Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 20:18
18Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.
Proverbs 20:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
- New International Version (NIV)Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
Context of Proverbs 20:18
16Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. 17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel. Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance. 19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth. 20Whoever curses his father or mother — his lamp will go out in deep darkness.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:18 word by word
מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת בְּעֵצָ֣ה תִכּ֑וֹן וּ֝בְתַחְבֻּל֗וֹת עֲשֵׂ֣ה מִלְחָמָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:18
- Proverbs 15:22Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
- Proverbs 24:6for you should wage war with sound guidance — victory comes with many counselors.
- Proverbs 25:8Don’t take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you?
- Judges 1:1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites?”
- Judges 9:29If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Gather your army and come out.”
- Judges 20:7Look, all of you are Israelites. Give your judgment and verdict here and now.”
- 2 Samuel 2:26Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
- 2 Chronicles 25:17King Amaziah of Judah took counsel and sent word to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”
- Luke 14:31“Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18With good advice make war, - Perhaps there is not a precept in this whole book so little regarded as this. Most of the wars that are undertaken are wars of injustice, ambition, aggrandizement, and caprice, which can have had no previous good counsel. A minister, who is perhaps neither a good nor a great man, counsels his king to make war; the cabinet must be brought into it, and a sufficient number out of the states of the kingdom gained over to support…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 Especially we need advice in spiritual warfare. The word and Spirit of God are the best counsellors in every point.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 20
- 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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries