Verse 17. No worldly end is to be had in view in deciding on the best course. Those which would be disadvantageous from a worldly point of view must be considered equally with those which would be advantageous, nor must the mind be careful about the result in this world, for all things are overruled by the Lord's Divine Providence; and if the thing is too hard to be decided by a man's own rationality, it must be brought to the truth flowing immediately from the Divine principle, and wisdom will be given.

147. And will give him a white stone, signifies wisdom and intelligence. This is evident from the signification of "a white stone," when [it is given] by the Lord, as being reception from Him and influx; and as it is reception and influx from the Lord, it also is wisdom and intelligence from Him, for those who receive from the Lord and with whom the Lord flows in, are in wisdom and intelligence. "To give a white stone" signifies these things, because formerly in public decisions the votes were taken by means of stones; white stones indicating the affirmative opinions, and black stones the negative; therefore by a "white stone" is signified the reception of wisdom and intelligence.