Where no counsel [is], the people fall,.... Where there is no wise and prudent, sound and good counsel, as the word signifies; where that is not, there had as good be none, or better; a people, a kingdom, a commonwealth, nation, or city, fall into ruin and destruction, or into schemes which bring them to it; they are like a ship without a pilot, or without a helm, or one to steer it: the Targum, Syriac, and Vulgate Latin versions, render it,"where there is no governor;''and the Arabic version,"they that have no providence (or forecast) fall as a leaf falls;''and so the Septuagint version,"they that have no government fall as leaves,''as leaves fall in autumn; and the word signifies the helm of government , in allusion to a ship;but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety; because what one may miss another may hit upon; and, if they agree in their advice, it may be the more depended upon; and, if not, yet their different sentiments being compared together, and the reasons of them, a person may the better judge which is best to follow, and what is fit to be done: it may be rendered, "in the greatness" or "largeness of a counsellor" , for the word is in the singular number; that is, in the large capacity or endowments of a counsellor; in one that is abundantly qualified for a counsellor; whose abilities are not to be questioned; in the advice of such an one a man may safely confide; and who that answers to this character as Jesus Christ, the wonderful Counsellor?
Bible Commentary
Proverbs 11:14
Proverbs 11:14
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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Proverbs 11 — OverviewProverbs 11 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWeighty Sayings.Proverbs 11 — OverviewProverbs 11 · Little Bible — for children and parentsProverbs 11 is a gallery of contrasts: honest versus dishonest, proud versus humble, generous versus greedy, righteous versus wicked. Every pairing teaches the same underlying truth — God sees all things, and He rewards…Proverbs 11:14Proverbs 11:14 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere is, 1. The bad omen of a kingdom's ruin: Where no counsel is, no
consultation at all, but every thing done rashly, or no prudent
consultation for the common good, but only caballing for parties and
divided…Proverbs 11:14Proverbs 11:14 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeProverbs 15:22, Proverbs 16:22, Proverbs 24:6; 1 Kings 12:1-19; Isaiah 19:11-14; Acts 15:6-21Proverbs 11:14Proverbs 11:14 · Little Bible — for children and parentsWisdom is rarely a solo pursuit. Those who reject counsel and trust only themselves fall. Safety — in decisions, in leadership, in life — comes from seeking and accepting input from multiple wise, godly counsellors.…
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