Proverbs 29:18 (BSB)

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.

From Proverbs 29. Also in the ESV.

Commentary on Proverbs 29:18

• Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Proverbs 29:18: See here, I. The misery of the people that want a settled ministry: Where there is no vision, no prophet to expound the law, no priest or Levite to teach the good knowledge of the Lord, no means of grace, the word of the Lord is scarce, there is no open vision (Sa1 3:1), where it is so the people perish; the word has many...
• John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Proverbs 29:18: Where there is no vision, the people perish,.... That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want...
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Proverbs 29:18: no vision--instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions (Sa1 3:1). people perish--(Compare Margin), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law--has, and observes, instruction (Pro 14:11, Pro 14:34; Psa 19:11).
• Geneva Bible Notes (Reformed), Geneva Bible Study Notes on Proverbs 29:18: Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he. (d) Where there are not faithful ministers of the word of God.