11:14

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

14a For lack of guidance a nation falls,

14b but with many counselors comes deliverance.

11:14a

For lack of guidance, a nation falls: The first phrase describes a situation that results in the defeat or destruction of a nation. Some other ways to express this relationship are:

If a nation has no one to give guidance, it will be destroyed/defeated.
-or-
Lack of guidance will cause a nation to be destroyed/defeated.

For lack of guidance: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as guidance clearly implies wise guidance, direction, or counsel. The ones who provide direction or guidance to a nation are generally its leaders. In some languages, it may be more natural to make this explicit. For example:

A country without wise leaders
-or-
Without wise leadership (New Living Translation (2004))

a nation: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a nation is literally “a people.” This word can refer to any group of people, including the people of a city or the people of a country. Some languages may be able to use a general expression. For example:

a people (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
a group of people

If you need to be more specific, it is recommended that you use a term that refers to a nation or country.

falls: The word falls refers here to either economic ruin or military defeat. If possible, translate in such a way that your readers can understand either sense of the word. If it is not possible to keep this ambiguity, you should use an expression that refers to military defeat.

11:14b

but with many counselors comes deliverance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as deliverance can mean “salvation,” “help,” “deliverance,” “victory,” or “safety.” In this context, it probably indicates that a country is delivered/saved from its enemies as a result of the wise counsel of many advisers. Some other ways to translate this idea are:

• Refer to victory. For example:

but with many advisers there is victory (God’s Word)

• Refer to being saved or rescued. For example:

but lots of good advice will save it (New Century Version)

• Refer in a more general way to security or safety. For example:

but in an abundance of counselors there is safety (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Many advisers mean security

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