Proverbs 29 · Verse 18

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18, King James Version

Proverbs 29:18 in other translations

BSBWhere there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
WEBWhere there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed.
ASVWhere there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
YLTWithout a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!
DARBYWhere there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.
BBEWhere there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.
WebsterWhere there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

What does Proverbs 29:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Where 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 it."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 29:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּאֵ֣יןbe.'Einwhen there notH369
חָ֭זוֹןCha.zon[is] visionH2377
יִפָּ֣רַֽעyi.Pa.ra'it is let looseH6544
עָ֑ם'Ama peopleH5971
וְשֹׁמֵ֖רve.sho.Merand [one who] keepsH8104
תּוֹרָ֣הto.Rah[the] lawH8451
אַשְׁרֵֽהוּ\׃'ash.Re.huhow blessed [is] heH835

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 29:18

  • James 1:25

    But 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 11:28

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  • Hosea 4:6

    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.

  • John 13:17

    If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

  • Psalms 1:1-2

    Blessed 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. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

  • Proverbs 19:16

    He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

  • Psalms 119:2

    Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

  • Amos 8:11-12

    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: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

  • 1 Samuel 3:1

    And 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.

  • Matthew 9:36

    But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

  • Exodus 32:25

    And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

  • Psalms 74:9

    We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
there.
1Sa 3:1; Ho 4:6; Am 8:11,12; Mt 9:36; Ro 10:13-15
perish. or, is made naked.
2Ch 28:19
but.
19:16; Ps 19:11; 119:2; Lu 11:28; Joh 13:17; 14:21-23; Jas 1:25
Re 22:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 29:17

    Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

  • Proverbs 29:18

    Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

  • Proverbs 29:19

    A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

Read all of Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Sin profecía el pueblo será disipado: mas el que guarda la ley, bienaventurado él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Quand il n’y a point de vision, le peuple est sans frein; mais bienheureux celui qui garde la loi!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wenn kein Gesicht da ist, wird ein Volk zügellos; aber glückselig ist es, wenn es das Gesetz beobachtet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cum prophetia defecerit, dissipabitur populus; qui vero custodit legem beatus est.