Manyplansare in a man'sheart,But the counselof the LORDwill stand.
"As for you, you meantevilagainstme, [but] Godmeantit for goodin orderto bringaboutthispresentresult, to preservemanypeoplealive.
Then Absalomand allthe menof Israelsaid,"The counselof Hushaithe Architeis betterthanthe counselof Ahithophel."For the LORDhad ordainedto thwartthe goodcounselof Ahithophel,sothat the LORDmight bringcalamityon Absalom.
But when it cameto the king'sattention,he commandedby letterthat his wickedschemewhichhe had devisedagainstthe Jews,should returnon his own headand that he and his sonsshould be hangedon the gallows.
"But He is uniqueand whocan turnHim? And [what] His souldesires,that He does.
Thoughthey intendedevilagainstYou [And] deviseda plot,They will not succeed.
They have said,"Come,and let us wipethem out as a nation,That the nameof Israelbe rememberednomore."
A goodmanwill obtainfavorfrom the LORD,But He will condemna manwho devisesevil.
The plansof the heartbelong to man,But the answerof the tongueis from the LORD.
The mindof manplanshis way,But the LORDdirectshis steps.
Whatis desirablein a manis his kindness,And [it is] betterto be a poorman thana liar.
The king'sheartis [like] channelsof waterin the handof the LORD;He turnsit whereverHe wishes.
Thereis nowisdomand nounderstandingAnd nocounselagainstthe LORD.
"Behold,I have foundonlythis,that Godmademenupright,but they have soughtout manydevices."
The LORDof hostshas swornsaying,"Surely,justas I have intendedsoit has happened,and justas I have plannedso it will stand,
Declaringthe endfrom the beginning,And from ancienttimesthings whichhave not been done,Saying,My purposewill be established,And I will accomplishallMy goodpleasure';
Thiswill be the signto you,' declaresthe LORD,'that I am going to punishyou in thisplace,sothat you may knowthat My wordswill surelystandagainstyou for harm.'
"What comesinto your mindwill not comeabout, whenyou say:'We will be like the nations,like the tribesof the lands,servingwoodand stone.'
"Allthe inhabitantsof the earthare accountedas nothing,But He doesaccordingto His willin the hostof heavenAnd [among] the inhabitantsof earth;And noone can wardoffHis handOr sayto Him, 'Whathave You done?'
alsowe have obtained an inheritance,having been predestinedaccordingto His purposewho worksall thingsafterthe counselof His will,
and, "A STONEOF STUMBLINGAND A ROCKOF OFFENSE";for they stumblebecause they are disobedientto the word,and to this[doom] they were alsoappointed.
For certainpersonshave crept in unnoticed,thosewho were longbeforehand markedout for thiscondemnation,ungodly personswho turnthe graceof our Godinto licentiousnessand denyour onlyMasterand Lord,JesusChrist.
