New Living Translation
Proverbs 29:18
18When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
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, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall. 17Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad. When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. 19Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded. 20There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
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 3:1Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
- Hosea 4:6My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.
- Amos 8:11“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Romans 10:13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
- 2 Chronicles 28:19The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord.
- Proverbs 19:16Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.
- Psalms 19:11They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
- Psalms 119:2Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
- Luke 11:28Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
- John 13:17Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
- John 14:21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
- James 1:25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
- Revelation 22:14Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
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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