BSB
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
WEB
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
KJV
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Matthew Henry
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Verse 22
Proverbs 21:22
Note, 1. Those that have power are apt to promise themselves great things from their power. The city of the mighty thinks itself impregnable, and therefore its strength is the confidence thereof, what it boasts of and trust in, bidding defiance to danger. 2. Those that have wisdom, though they are so modest as not to promise much, often perform great things, even against those that are so confident of their strength, by their wisdom. Good conduct will go far even against great force; and a stratagem, well managed, may effectually scale the city of the mighty and cast down the strength it had such a confidence in. A wise man will gain upon the affections of people and conquer them by strength of reason, which is a more noble conquest than that obtained by strength of arms. Those that understand their interest will willingly submit themselves to a wise and good man, and the strongest walls shall not hold out against him.