Proverbs 15:22

22 Thoughts be destroyed, where no counsel is; but where many counsellors be, they be confirmed. (Plans come to naught, where there is no wise advice; but where there be many counsellors, the plans succeed.)

Proverbs 15:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:22

Without counsel purposes are disappointed
If a man determines and resolves upon a matter, and at once hastily and precipitately goes about it, without mature deliberation, without consulting with himself, and taking the advice of others in forming a scheme to bring about his designs, it generally comes to nothing; see ( Luke 14:28-32 ) ; or "without a secret" ^F19 without keeping one; if a man divulges his intentions, it is much if they are not frustrated; so the Targum,

``vain are the thoughts (or designs) where there is no secret;''

if a man makes no secret of what he designs to do, he is easily counterworked, and his purposes disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established;
his purposes are, as in ( Proverbs 20:18 ) ; having the advice of others, and these many, he is confirmed that he is right in what he has thought of and purposed to do; and therefore goes about it with the greater spirit and cheerfulness, and is most likely to succeed, and generally does; see ( Proverbs 11:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (dwo Nyab) "in non secreto", Montanus; "cum non sit secretum", Baynus; "quum nullum est arcanum", Schultens; "ubi non est secretum", Cocceius.

Proverbs 15:22 In-Context

20 A wise son maketh glad his father; but a fond man despiseth his mother. (A wise son maketh his father happy; but a fool despiseth his mother.)

21 Folly is joy to a fool; but a prudent man shall (ad)dress his steps. (Foolishness bringeth joy to a fool; but a prudent person shall direct his steps.)

22 Thoughts be destroyed, where no counsel is; but where many counsellors be, they be confirmed. (Plans come to naught, where there is no wise advice; but where there be many counsellors, the plans succeed.)

23 A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a covenable word is best (but a suitable word is always best).

24 The path of life is on a learned man; that he bow away from the last hell. (The path of life leadeth upward for the learned; yea, so that they turn away from Sheol, or the land of the dead/so that they turn away from hell, which is below.)