עֵצָה

Israel is a nation devoid of counsel, with no understanding among them.

Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”

Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.”

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

…and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)

But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders

…and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

Ahaziah also followed their counsel and went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded Joram.

While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.

He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.

Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.

“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?

You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, yet the LORD is their shelter.

May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel.

Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.

…because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.

Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.

…because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.