Proverbs 21:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.

NIV: There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

NASB: There is no wisdom, no understanding, And no plan against the Lord.

CSB: No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.

NLT: No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.

KJV: There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

NKJV: There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.

Try as we might, human beings cannot out-think God. Nor can we trick Him, overcome Him, or out-maneuver His will (Job 42:2; Proverbs 10:3; Psalm 146:9). It doesn't matter if the attempt is blatant when someone thinks they can hide their sin from God (Psalm 10:4, 11). It doesn't matter if someone means well and yet thinks they can bargain with the Lord or force Him to act according to their wishes (Deuteronomy 18:20; Romans 2:4; Galatians 6:7). The Lord is absolutely sovereign (Revelation 19:6).

First Corinthians 3:19–20 concurs with this proverb. Paul writes: "For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'" Psalm 2:2–3 states, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his Anointed, saying, 'Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.'" Verses 4 and 5 depict the Lord as laughing at the nations' insolence and speaking to them in His wrath and terrifying them. Revelation 20:7–8 prophesies a worldwide revolt against the Lord at the close of His thousand-year reign on earth. But the attempt ends in a horrific judgment and God's inevitable victory (Revelation 20:9–15).

The next proverb phrases this same idea in military terms (Proverbs 21:31).

This chapter begins and ends with a declaration of God's sovereignty. He alone judges the heart; the Lord considers intentions just as important as physical actions. Other comments include statements about unpleasant spouses, proper perspectives on wealth, work ethic, and the essential nature of godly wisdom. Human wisdom is no match for the sovereign Lord, who alone is ultimately responsible for victory in battle.

This is part of the second major section of the book (Proverbs 10—22) featuring nearly four hundred statements. Most of these are two-line comments presenting common sense and general wisdom. The vague theme of chapter 21 is God's control. Man may believe he is in control of his circumstances, but God superintends everything. The chapter begins and ends by assuring the readers that God holds ultimate sway over all things.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.