God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 29:18
18Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings.
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 wicked people increase, crime increases, but righteous people will witness their downfall. 17Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind. He will bring delight to your soul. Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings. 19A slave cannot be disciplined with words. He will not respond, though he may understand. 20Have you met a person who is quick to answer? There is more hope for a 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 3:1The boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. In those days a prophecy from the Lord was rare; visions were infrequent.
- Hosea 4:6I will destroy my people because they are ignorant. You have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be my priests. You have forgotten the teachings of your God, so I will forget your children.
- Amos 8:11The days are going to come, declares the Almighty Lord, when I will send a famine throughout the land. It won’t be an ordinary famine or drought. Instead, there will be a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.
- Romans 10:13So then, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
- 2 Chronicles 28:19The Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz had spread sin throughout Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord.
- Proverbs 19:16Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, ⌞but⌟ whoever despises the Lord’s ways will be put to death.
- Psalms 19:11As your servant I am warned by them. There is a great reward in following them.
- Psalms 119:2Blessed are those who obey his written instructions. They wholeheartedly search for him.
- Luke 11:28Jesus replied, “Rather, how blessed are those who hear and obey God’s word.”
- John 13:17If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example.
- John 14:21Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father’s love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them.”
- James 1:25However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s laws say.
- Revelation 22:14“Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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