Job 18:7

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.

The spirit of Egypt will fail within it. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards.

The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.

Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.

Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.

who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;

I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

Let the wicked fall together into their own nets while I pass by.

Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.

What do you plot against Yahweh? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.

For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.

but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’

The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel both was like this with David and with Absalom.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

“He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down, and reaping that which I didn’t sow.

throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.

Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.

My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.

He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.

Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom.

When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand, for God is with us.”

Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren’t satisfied.

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped.

Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.

Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.

You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place.

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.

Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.

His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.

But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

He will also carry their gods, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, captive into Egypt. He will refrain some years from the king of the north.

“They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.

The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth,

Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel.”

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

He has walled up my way so that I can’t pass, and has set darkness in my paths.

In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him.

Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.

Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.

Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.

Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out there; and though they be hidden from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it will bite them.

“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”