John Gill Commentary Proverbs 11:14

"Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." — Proverbs 11:14 (ASV)

Where no counsel [is], the people fall
Where there is no wise and prudent, sound and good counsel, as the word signifies; where that is not, there might as well be none, or better; a people, a kingdom, a commonwealth, nation, or city, fall into ruin and destruction, or into schemes which bring them to it. They are like a ship without a pilot, or without a helm, or one to steer it: the Targum, Syriac, and Vulgate Latin versions, render it, "where there is no governor;" and the Arabic version, "they that have no providence (or forecast) fall as a leaf falls;" and so the Septuagint version, "they that have no government fall as leaves," as leaves fall in autumn; and the word signifies the helm of government ^F15, in allusion to a ship;

but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety
because what one may miss another may hit upon; and, if they agree in their advice, it may be the more depended upon; and, if not, yet their different sentiments being compared together, and the reasons of them, a person may the better judge which is best to follow, and what is fit to be done. It may be rendered, "in the greatness" or "largeness of a counsellor" ^F16 , for the word is in the singular number; that is, in the large capacity or endowments of a counsellor; in one that is abundantly qualified for a counsellor; whose abilities are not to be questioned; in the advice of such an one a man may safely confide. And who that answers to this character as Jesus Christ, the wonderful Counsellor? in whose counsel we may rest with the greatest safety; and which may be found in his word, in the Scriptures, which David says should be the men of his counsel, (Psalms 119:24) ; see (Isaiah 9:6) (28:29) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F15: (twlbxt) "gubernationes", Schultens.
• F16: (Uewy brb) "in amplitudine consiliarii", Junius & Tremellius.