New King James Version
Proverbs 20:18
18Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.
Context of Proverbs 20:18
16Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put 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 15:22Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
- Proverbs 24:6For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
- Proverbs 25:8Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame?
- Judges 1:1Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”
- Judges 9:29If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
- Judges 20:7Look! All of you are children of Israel; give your advice and counsel here and now!”
- 2 Samuel 2:26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”
- 2 Chronicles 25:17Now Amaziah king of Judah asked advice and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another in battle.”
- Luke 14:31Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries