O that they would be wise and would understand, and would provide for their last end.

Oh that they had been wise! they would have understood this, They would have considered their latter end!

If they were wise, They deal wisely with this; They attend to their latter end:

If only they were wise, if only this was clear to them, and they would give thought to their future!

If they were wise, they would understand this, They would discern their latter end.

I wish that they would be wise and understanding, and would provide for the very end.'

Si sapientes essent, intelligerent novissimum suum.

That they would consider their latter end! - אחריתם archaritham, properly, their latter times - the glorious days of the Messiah, who, according to the flesh, should spring up among them. Should they carefully consider this subject, and receive the promised Savior, they would consequently act as persons under infinite obligations to God; his strength would be their shield, and then: -

O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would (q) consider their latter end!
(q) They would consider the happiness that was prepared for them, if they had obeyed God.

O that they were wise,.... These are not the words of God, and so no instances of mere velleities, and unsuccessful wishes in him, and as arguing a power in man to make himself wise if he would; but of Moses, under a spirit of prophecy, foreseeing the ignorance and stupidity of the above persons; or as representing a true believer in Christ, in the times in which such men should live; for the person speaking is one that had faith in Christ, the rock of salvation, and built upon him alone for it; and who had enemies on that account, as appears from Deuteronomy 32:31, and these words are spoken not of the Jews, with whom this song has no more concern, unless it be in what respects, their conversion in the latter day; but of false Christians, Pelagians, Arians, &c. whose language and character are expressed in Deuteronomy 32:28, and contain a pathetic wish that they might have wisdom to see their follies, errors, and mistakes, and renounce them: or, "if they were wise" (k); as they are not, and their tenets show it:
that they would understand this; namely what follows:
that they would consider their latter end; either the latter end of the Jews; had they wisdom, they would understand and observe that the displeasure of God against them, and his destruction of them, was for their lightly esteeming the rock of salvation, as Arians do; and for setting up their own righteousness, in opposition to the righteousness of Christ, as do Pelagians and Arminians; and were they wise, they would be hereby cautioned against such notions; and though imbibed by them, would relinquish them; as they may justly fear some such like end will be theirs: for if God does not give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth their end must be miserable; since the errors they embrace and profess are what the apostle calls "damnable heresies"; who, denying the Lord that bought them, bring on themselves swift destruction; and whose judgment, he says, lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not, 2-Peter 2:1.
(k) "o si sapcrent", Tigurine version; "si sapuissent", Vatablus; "si saperent", Cocceius.

Oh, . . . that they would consider their latter end--The terrible judgments, which, in the event of their continued and incorrigible disobedience, would impart so awful a character to the close of their national history.

They - Israel. Latter end - What their end will be, and that tho' God spare them long, yet at last judgment will certainly overtake them.