He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.

“With God are wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.

His vigorous steps are restricted, and his own counsel throws him down.

“People listened to me and waited silently; they kept silent for my advice.

You want to humiliate the oppressed, even though the Lord is their shelter.

You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.

They quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his instructions.

Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance.

because you neglected all my advice, and did not comply with my rebuke,

they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke.

Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance.

They are a nation devoid of wisdom, and there is no understanding among them.

But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

But it was he who filled their houses with good things – yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me.

“Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?

May he grant your heart’s desire; may he bring all your plans to pass!

The Lord frustrates the decisions of the nations; he nullifies the plans of the peoples.

The Lord’s decisions stand forever; his plans abide throughout the ages.

Many times he delivered them, but they had a rebellious attitude, and degraded themselves by their sin.

because they had rebelled against God’s commands, and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king.