Prepareplansby consultation,And makewarby wiseguidance.
"So nowcome,pleaselet me giveyou counseland saveyour lifeand the lifeof your sonSolomon.
"You say(but [they are] onlyemptywords),'[I have] counseland strengthfor the war.'Nowon whomdo you rely,that you have rebelledagainst me?
Where thereis noguidancethe peoplefall,But in abundanceof counselorsthere is victory.
Withoutconsultation,plansare frustrated,But with manycounselorsthey succeed.
For by wiseguidanceyou will wagewar,And in abundanceof counselorsthere is victory.
Do not goout hastilyto argue[your case]; Otherwise,whatwill you doin the end,When your neighborhumiliatesyou?
"Orwhatking,when he setsout to meetanotherkingin battle,will not firstsit downand considerwhetherhe is strong enoughwith tenthousand[men] to encounterthe one comingagainsthim with twentythousand?
Allwho saw[it] said,"Nothinglike thishas [ever] happenedor been seenfrom the daywhen the sonsof Israelcameup from the landof Egyptto thisday.Considerit, takecounseland speakup!"
Now the sonsof Israelarose,wentup to Bethel,and inquiredof Godand said,"Whoshall goup firstfor us to battleagainstthe sonsof Benjamin?"Then the LORDsaid,"Judah[shall go up] first."
The sonsof Israelwentup and weptbeforethe LORDuntilevening,and inquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall we againdrawnearfor battleagainstthe sonsof my brotherBenjamin?"And the LORDsaid,"Goup againsthim."
"Behold,allyou sonsof Israel,giveyour adviceand counselhere."
"Would,therefore, that thispeoplewere under my authority!Then I would removeAbimelech."And he saidto Abimelech,"Increaseyour armyand comeout."
