Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Parallel translations
- WEB Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.
- BSB Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
- NKJV Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
- NASB Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law.
- NLT When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Without God's revealed word a people lose moral restraint and run wild, while those who keep His law are blessed.
Overview
"Revelation" here is God's authoritative word, especially as it came through prophets; where it is absent or ignored, society casts off self-control and disintegrates. The verse pairs prophetic revelation with keeping the law, showing that hearing God's word must lead to obedience. Blessing comes not from mere access to truth but from submission to it, a truth fulfilled in Christ, the living Word, whom the obedient receive in faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Jas 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- Luke 11:28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
- Hos 4:6My 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.
- John 13:17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
- Ps 1:1–2Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
- Prov 19:16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
- Ps 119:2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
- 1 Sam 3:1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
- Amos 8:11–12Behold, 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:
- Matt 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
- Exod 32:25And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
- Ps 74:9We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
- Ps 19:11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
- Rom 10:13–15For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- Rev 22:14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- 2 Chr 28:19For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
- John 14:21–23He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 29:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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