^14:31Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down¹⁰⁰ first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose¹⁰¹ the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ^14:32If he cannot succeed,¹⁰² he will send a representative¹⁰³ while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace.¹⁰⁴

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Footnotes

100 The participle καθίσας (kathisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
101 On the meaning of this verb see also L&N 55.3, “to meet in battle, to face in battle.”
102 Grk “And if not.” Here δέ (de) has not been translated; “succeed” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
103 Grk “a messenger.”
104 This image is slightly different from the former one about the tower (vv. 28–30). The first part of the illustration (sit down first and determine) deals with preparation. The second part of the illustration (ask for terms of peace) has to do with recognizing who is stronger. This could well suggest thinking about what refusing the “stronger one” (God) might mean, and thus constitutes a warning. Achieving peace with God, the more powerful king, is the point of the illustration.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand. But if not, while the other is still far away, he sends an ambassador and asks for terms of peace.

KJV 1900King James Version

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

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