27 but I dreaded the taunt of the enemy,

lest the adversary misunderstand

and say, ‘Our hand has triumphed;

the Lord has not done all this.’ ”

28 They are a nation without sense,

there is no discernment in them.

29 If only they were wise and would understand this

and discern what their end will be!

27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy,

Lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely,

And lest they should say, Our hand is high,

And the Lord hath not done all this.

28 For they are a nation void of counsel,

Neither is there any understanding in them.

29 O that they were wise, that they understood this,

That they would consider their latter end!

27 But I feared the taunt of Israel’s enemy,

who might misunderstand and say,

“Our own power has triumphed!

The Lord had nothing to do with this!” ’

28 “But Israel is a senseless nation;

the people are foolish, without understanding.

29 Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!

Oh, that they might know their fate!

27 Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy,

Lest their adversaries should misunderstand,

Lest they should say, “Our hand is high;

And it is not the Lord who has done all this.” ’

28 “For they are a nation void of counsel,

Nor is there any understanding in them.

29 Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,

That they would consider their latter end!

27 But I didn’t want their enemy to brag;

their enemy might misunderstand

and say, ‘We have won!

The Lord has done none of this.’ ”

28 Israel has no sense;

they do not understand.

29 I wish they were wise and understood this;

I wish they could see what will happen to them.

27 Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,

Lest their adversaries should judge amiss,

Lest they should say, Our hand is exalted,

And Jehovah hath not done all this.

28 For they are a nation void of counsel,

And there is no understanding in them.

29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this,

That they would consider their latter end!

27 If I did not fear provocation from the enemy, Lest their adversaries should misunderstand it, Lest they should say, Our hand is high, and Jehovah has not done all this. 28 For they are a nation void of counsel, And understanding is not in them. 29 Oh that they had been wise! they would have understood this, They would have considered their latter end!

27 But I didn’t want their enemies to make me angry. 

I didn’t want their opponents to misunderstand and say, 

‘We won this victory! 

It wasn’t the Lord who did all this!’ ” 

28 My people have lost their good sense. 

They are not able to understand. 

29 If only they were wise enough to understand this 

and realize what will happen to them! 

27 if I had not feared insult from the enemy,

or feared that these foes might misunderstand

and say: ‘Our own hand has prevailed;

it wasn’t the Lord who did all this.’ ”

28 Israel is a nation lacking sense

with no understanding at all.

29 If only they were wise, they would figure it out;

they would understand their fate.

27 but I feared provocation by the enemy,

for their adversaries might misunderstand

and say, “Our hand is triumphant;

it was not the Lord who did all this.”

28 They are a nation void of sense;

there is no understanding in them.

29 If they were wise, they would understand this;

they would discern what the end would be.

27 If I had not feared a provocation of the enemy,

lest their foes might misunderstand,

lest they should say, “Our hand is

triumphant, and Yahweh did not do all this.” ’

28 For they are a nation void of sense,

and there is not any understanding in them.

29 If only they were wise, they would understand this;

they would discern for themselves their end.

27 But I was afraid their enemies would make fun of that.

I was afraid their attackers would not understand.

I was sure they would say, ‘We’re the ones who’ve beaten them!

The Lord isn’t the one who did it.’ ”

28 Israel is a nation that doesn’t have any sense.

They can’t understand anything.

29 I wish they were wise. Then they would understand what’s coming.

They’d realize what would happen to them in the end.

27 Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy,

That their adversaries would misjudge,

That they would say, “Our hand is triumphant,

And the Lord has not done all this.” ’

28 “For they are a nation lacking in counsel,

And there is no understanding in them.

29 “Would that they were wise, that they understood this,

That they would discern their future!