Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Where (there is) no vision, the people perish. Where there is no setting forth of the will of God, whether by special revelation, as in old times (Psalms 74:9; Lamentations 2:9; Ezekiel 7:26), or by the ordinary ministrations of God's ministers and God's Word, as now, "the people perish." The Hebrew verb х yipaara` (H6544)] means 'are dissipated;' also 'revolt,' 'become unbridled,' and so perish. To this unbridled, and consequently ruinous state, is opposed in the parallel clause, "happy;" as "the law" stands in contrast to "no vision." Such did the Jews become, instead of their former happy state, when they rejected the Word of the Lord; and consequently lost their kingdom and place. The Hebrew means also 'to be made naked.' A people without God's Word and God's favour is stripped naked of its comely garments, and its defense against shame and injury (2 Chronicles 28:19; Exodus 32:25; Ephesians 6:14-17). Those who take from the people the Word of God hand them over naked to Satan for destruction.
But he (the people, and each individual in it) that keepeth the law (not merely heareth it) happy is he (Luke 8:21).