What does Proverbs 11:14 mean? (2024)

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ESVWhere there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

NIVFor lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

NASBWhere there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory.

CSBWithout guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.

NLTWithout wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

KJVWhere no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

NKJV Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

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This verse commends seeking advice from others; taking the step of conferring with other people makes one much more likely to reach a good conclusion. When people refuse to take good advice, and turn to "echo chambers," where all they hear are their own opinions being repeated, they are more vulnerable to lies and errors.

The word "guidance" here comes from a term applied to the steering of a ship. A ship without proper guidance is likely to crash onto rocks, collide with another ship, or run aground. In the same way, people without worthwhile advice (Proverbs 27:17) experience disaster. Old Testament kings surrounded themselves with counselors. Wise counselors gave good advice about confronting an enemy, but unwise counselors brought trouble to the king and the nation. The more wise counselors a believer can rely on, the stronger and richer his life is. He is steered in the right direction.

Occasionally, wise counsel may point out a person's weaknesses and his tendency to do the wrong thing. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." Good advice is not always pleasant advice, but true friends will not merely tell a person what they want to hear. Giving bad advice just to make friends is the mark of a false teacher. Paul counsels Timothy to warn the church at Ephesus about the influence of such people (1 Timothy 4:1–3). He tells Timothy, "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 4:6).

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