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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/29-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/20_Pro_29_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 29:18 - The Stiff-Necked will Be Destroyed" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/proverbs/29-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/proverbs/29-18.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/proverbs/">Proverbs</a> > <a href="/proverbs/29.htm">Chapter 29</a> > Verse 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/proverbs/29-17.htm" title="Proverbs 29:17">◄</a> Proverbs 29:18 <a href="/proverbs/29-19.htm" title="Proverbs 29:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/proverbs/29.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/29.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom&#8217s instruction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/29.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/29.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/29.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/29.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Where <i>there is</i> no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy <i>is</i> he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/29.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Where <i>there is</i> no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy <i>is</i> he who keeps the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/29.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/29.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/29.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/29.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people are out of control, But how blessed is he who keeps the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/29.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy <i>and</i> blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/29.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/29.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Without revelation people run wild, but one who listens to instruction will be happy. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/29.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/29.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Without guidance from God law and order disappear, but God blesses everyone who obeys his Law. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/29.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/29.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow [God's] teachings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/29.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/29.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint, but those who obey the Law are happy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/29.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/29.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/29.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but he who keeps the law is blessed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/29.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/29.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/29.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A people is made naked without a vision, "" And whoever is keeping the Law, O his blessedness!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/29.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/29.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />In no vision the people shall be unruly: and he watching the law, happy is he.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/29.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law is blessed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/29.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />When prophecy fails, the people will be scattered. Yet truly, whoever guards the law is blessed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/29.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Without a vision the people lose restraint; but happy is the one who follows instruction. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/29.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/29.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />When the wicked men multiply, the people are ruined; but he who keeps the law, blessed is he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/29.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />In the multitude of the evil ones a people is breached, and he that keeps the law is blessed.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/29.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/29.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/29-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=6054" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/29.htm">The Stiff-Necked will Be Destroyed</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: bə·’ên (Prep-b:: Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">Where there is no</a> <a href="/hebrew/2377.htm" title="2377: ḥā·zō·wn (N-ms) -- Vision. From chazah; a sight, i.e. A dream, revelation, or oracle.">vision,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘ām (N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/6544.htm" title="6544: yip·pā·ra‘ (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin.">cast off restraint;</a> <a href="/hebrew/835.htm" title="835: ’aš·rê·hū (Interjection:: 3ms) -- Happiness, blessedness. From 'ashar; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!">but blessed is</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: wə·šō·mêr (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">he who keeps</a> <a href="/hebrew/8451.htm" title="8451: tō·w·rāh (N-fs) -- Direction, instruction, law. Or torah; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.">the Law.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a></span><br />My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-11.htm">Amos 8:11-12</a></span><br />Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. / People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-1.htm">Isaiah 1:1</a></span><br />This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/3-1.htm">1 Samuel 3:1</a></span><br />And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-16.htm">Jeremiah 23:16-22</a></span><br />This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. / They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’ / But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and obeyed it? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/7-26.htm">Ezekiel 7:26</a></span><br />Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/2-9.htm">Lamentations 2:9</a></span><br />Her gates have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed and shattered their bars. Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations, the law is no more, and even her prophets find no vision from the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-6.htm">Micah 3:6-7</a></span><br />Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them. / Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/15-3.htm">2 Chronicles 15:3</a></span><br />For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-9.htm">Isaiah 30:9-11</a></span><br />These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-14.htm">Matthew 13:14-15</a></span><br />In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-17.htm">Acts 2:17-18</a></span><br />‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. / Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/14-6.htm">1 Corinthians 14:6</a></span><br />Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-16.htm">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a></span><br />All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/1-3.htm">Revelation 1:3</a></span><br />Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.</p><p class="hdg">there</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/3-1.htm">1 Samuel 3:1</a></b></br> And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; <i>there was</i> no open vision.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a></b></br> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/8-11.htm">Amos 8:11,12</a></b></br> Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: … </p><p class="hdg">perish or is made naked</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/28-19.htm">2 Chronicles 28:19</a></b></br> For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">but</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/19-16.htm">Proverbs 19:16</a></b></br> He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; <i>but</i> he that despiseth his ways shall die.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/19-11.htm">Psalm 19:11</a></b></br> Moreover by them is thy servant warned: <i>and</i> in keeping of them <i>there is</i> great reward.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/119-2.htm">Psalm 119:2</a></b></br> Blessed <i>are</i> they that keep his testimonies, <i>and that</i> seek him with the whole heart.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/28-20.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-5.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-14.htm">Happiness</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-14.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-11.htm">Keepeth</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-7.htm">Keeping</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-3.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-9.htm">Law</a> <a href="/job/26-6.htm">Naked</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-28.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-12.htm">Prophecy</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-28.htm">Restraint</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/17-15.htm">Revelation</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-28.htm">Uncontrolled</a> <a href="/jude/1-12.htm">Unrestrained</a> <a href="/psalms/89-19.htm">Vision</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/31-28.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/3-5.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-7.htm">Happiness</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-28.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-5.htm">Keepeth</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/3-7.htm">Keeping</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-20.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-26.htm">Law</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-15.htm">Naked</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-6.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-1.htm">Prophecy</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-6.htm">Restraint</a> <a href="/daniel/7-28.htm">Revelation</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-6.htm">Uncontrolled</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-6.htm">Unrestrained</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-1.htm">Vision</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 29</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/29-1.htm">observations of public government</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/29-15.htm">and of private</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/29-22.htm">Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice and corruption</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/proverbs/29.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Where there is no vision</b><br />The Hebrew word for "vision" is "chazon," which refers to divine communication or revelation. In the context of ancient Israel, this would often mean prophetic insight or guidance from God. The absence of such vision implies a lack of divine direction, leading to spiritual and moral disarray. Historically, prophets played a crucial role in guiding the people, and without their vision, society would drift away from God's intended path. This phrase underscores the importance of spiritual leadership and divine guidance in maintaining order and purpose within a community.<p><b>the people cast off restraint</b><br />The phrase "cast off restraint" comes from the Hebrew word "para," which means to let go, to be unrestrained, or to become lawless. In the absence of divine vision, people tend to follow their own desires, leading to chaos and moral decay. This reflects the biblical theme that without God's guidance, human nature tends toward disorder and sin. The historical context of Israel shows that when the people ignored prophetic warnings, they often fell into idolatry and social injustice, highlighting the necessity of adhering to divine instruction.<p><b>but blessed is he who keeps the law</b><br />The word "blessed" in Hebrew is "esher," which conveys a sense of happiness, contentment, and well-being. This blessing is contingent upon keeping "the law," or "torah," which refers to God's instructions and commandments. The verse contrasts the chaos of a visionless society with the stability and blessing that come from obedience to God's law. In a conservative Christian perspective, this emphasizes the importance of Scripture as the ultimate guide for life. The historical and scriptural context shows that adherence to God's law brings order, peace, and divine favor, reinforcing the belief that true happiness is found in living according to God's will.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/29.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">Where there is no vision.</span>--No revelation of God's will (<a href="/isaiah/1-1.htm" title="The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.">Isaiah 1:1</a>), when God teaches none by His Spirit that they may instruct others. So it was in the evil days of Eli (<a href="/1_samuel/3-1.htm" title="And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.">1Samuel 3:1</a>), and Asa (<a href="/2_chronicles/15-3.htm" title="Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.">2Chronicles 15:3</a>).<p><span class= "bld">The people perish.</span>--Or, <span class= "ital">run wild. </span>(Comp. <a href="/hosea/4-6.htm" title="My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.">Hosea 4:6</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">But he that keepeth the law.--</span>The teaching of those whom God has instructed (Comp. <a href="/isaiah/1-10.htm" title="Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.">Isaiah 1:10</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/29.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Where there is no vision, the people perish;</span> rather, <span class="accented">cast off restraint</span>, become ungovernable, cannot be reined in (<a href="/exodus/32-22.htm">Exodus 32:22, 25</a>). "Vision" (<span class="accented">chazon</span>), prophecy in its widest sense, denotes the revelation of God's will made through agents, which directed the course of events, and was intended to be coordinate with the supreme secular authority. The prophets were the instructors of the people in Divine things, standing witnesses of the truth and power of religion, teaching a higher than mere human morality. The fatal effect of the absence of such revelation of God's will is stated to be confusion, disorder, and rebellion; the people, uncontrolled, fall into grievous excesses, which nothing but high principles can restrain. We note the licence of Eli's time, when there was no open vision (<a href="/1_samuel/3.htm">1 Samuel 3</a>.); in Asa's days, when Israel had long been without a teaching priest (<a href="/2_chronicles/15-3.htm">2 Chronicles 15:3</a>); and when the impious Ahaz "made Judah naked" (<a href="/2_chronicles/28-19.htm">2 Chronicles 28:19</a>); or when the people were destroyed by reason of lack of knowledge of Divine things (<a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a>). Thus the importance of prophecy in regulating the life and religion of the people is fully acknowledged by the writer, in whose time, doubtless, the prophetical office was in full exercise: but this seems to be the only passage in the book where such teaching is directly mentioned; the instructors and preceptors elsewhere introduced as disseminating the principles of the <span class="accented">chochmah</span> being parents, or tutors, or professors, not inspired prophets. <span class="cmt_word">But he that keepeth the Law, happy is he!</span> "The Law" (<span class="accented">torah</span>) is not merely the written Mosaic Law, but the announcement of God's will by the mouth of his representatives; and the thought is, not the blessedness of those who in a time of anarchy and irreligion keep to the authorized enactments of the Sinaitic legislation, but a contrast between the lawlessness and ruin of a people uninfluenced by religious guidance, and the happy state of those who obey alike the voice of God, whether conveyed in written statutes or by the teaching of living prophets. (For "happy is he," comp. <a href="/proverbs/14-21.htm">Proverbs 14:21</a>; <a href="/proverbs/16-20.htm">Proverbs 16:20</a>.) Septuagint, "There shall be no interpreter (<span class="greek">ἐξηγητὴς</span>) to a sinful nation, but he that keepeth the Law is most blessed." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/29-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Where [there is] no</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּאֵ֣ין</span> <span class="translit">(bə·’ên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">vision,</span><br /><span class="heb">חָ֭זוֹן</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·zō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2377.htm">Strong's 2377: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the people</span><br /><span class="heb">עָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cast off restraint;</span><br /><span class="heb">יִפָּ֣רַֽע</span> <span class="translit">(yip·pā·ra‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6544.htm">Strong's 6544: </a> </span><span class="str2">To loosen, to expose, dismiss, absolve, begin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but blessed [is]</span><br /><span class="heb">אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’aš·rê·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_835.htm">Strong's 835: </a> </span><span class="str2">Happiness, interjection, how happy!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he who keeps</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šō·mêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the law.</span><br /><span class="heb">תּוֹרָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(tō·w·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8451.htm">Strong's 8451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Direction, instruction, law</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/29-18.htm">Proverbs 29:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/29-18.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation the people (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/29-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 29:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 29:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/29-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 29:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 29:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>