⁶ So don’t go to war without wise guidance;
    victory depends on having many advisers.

¹⁸ Plans succeed through good counsel;
    don’t go to war without wise advice.

²² Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
    many advisers bring success.

³⁴ For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to give him advice?^[a]

⁸ Judah’s defenses have been stripped away.
    You run to the armory^[a] for your weapons.
⁹ You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem.^[b]
    You store up water in the lower pool.
¹⁰ You survey the houses and tear some down
    for stone to strengthen the walls.
¹¹ Between the city walls, you build a reservoir
    for water from the old pool.
But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.
    You never considered the One who planned this long ago.