¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, Hushai's suggestion is better than that of Ahithophel. For it was the purpose of the Lord to make the wise designs of Ahithophel without effect, so that the Lord might send evil on Absalom.

³⁴ But if you go back to the town and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as in the past I have been your father's servant, so now I will be yours: then you will be able to keep Ahithophel's designs against me from being put into effect.

³¹ And word came to David, saying, Ahithophel is among those who are joined to Absalom. And David said, O Lord, let the wisdom of Ahithophel be made foolish.

²³ In those days the opinions of Ahithophel were valued as highly as if through him a man might get direction from God; so were they valued by David as much as by Absalom.

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolish before God. As it is said in the holy Writings, He who takes the wise in their secret designs:

¹⁹ As it says in the holy Writings, I will put an end to the wisdom of the wise, and will put on one side the designs of those who have knowledge.

²⁰ Where is the wise? where is he who has knowledge of the law? where is the man of this world who has a love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

⁸ And his lord was pleased with the false servant, because he had been wise; for the sons of this world are wiser in relation to their generation than the sons of light.

³ Though they take cover on the top of Carmel, I will go in search of them and get them out; though they keep themselves from my eyes in the bed of the sea, I will give orders to the great snake there and he will give them a bite:

³⁷ Who is able to say a thing, and give effect to it, if it has not been ordered by the Lord?

¹⁰ Let your designs be formed, and they will come to nothing; give your orders, and they will not be effected: for God is with us.

³⁰ Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.

²¹ A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.

⁹ For he gave the word, and it was done; by his order it was fixed for ever.

¹⁰ The Lord undoes the designs of the nations; he makes the thoughts of the peoples without effect.

¹⁶ The Lord has given knowledge of himself through his judging: the evil-doer is taken in the net which his hands had made. (Higgaion. Selah.)

¹² Who makes the designs of the wise go wrong, so that they are unable to give effect to their purposes.

¹³ He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.

¹⁴ In the daytime it becomes dark for them, and in the sunlight they go feeling about as if it was night.

²⁰ But Amaziah gave no attention; and this was the purpose of God, so that he might give them up into the hands of Joash, because they had gone after the gods of Edom.

¹⁶ But while he was talking to him the king said to him, Have we made you one of the king's government? say no more, or it will be the cause of your death. Then the prophet gave up protesting, and said, It is clear to me that God's purpose is your destruction, because you have done this and have not given ear to my words.

³⁰ But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us go through; for the Lord your God made his spirit hard and his heart strong, so that he might give him up into your hands as at this day.

¹⁶ But, for this very reason, I have kept you from destruction, to make clear to you my power, and so that my name may be honoured through all the earth.

²⁸ And he said, Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel: for in your fight with God and with men you have overcome.