Proverbs 21:22

The wise person ¹  can scale ²  the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold ³  in which they trust. ⁴ 

A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.

One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers--their trusted defenses fell to pieces!

A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.

One wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

The wise person ¹  can scale ²  the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold ³  in which they trust. ⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “The wise [one/man].”

² tn The Qal perfect tense of עָלָה (’alah) functions in a potential nuance. Wisdom can be more effectual than physical strength.

³ sn In a war the victory is credited not so much to the infantry as to the tactician who plans the attack. Brilliant strategy wins wars, even over apparently insuperable odds (e.g., Prov 24:5-6; Eccl 9:13-16; 2 Cor 10:4).

⁴ tn Heb “and bring down the strength of its confidence.” The word “strength” is a metonymy of adjunct, referring to the place of strength, i.e., “the stronghold.” “Confidence” is a genitive of worth; the stronghold is their confidence, it is appropriate for the confidence of the city.