Proverbs 16:9

“A man’s heart deviseth his way, etc.] This is to be understood, not of a wicked man, in whose heart is frowardness, and who devises mischief and evil imaginations continually, (<200614>Proverbs 6:14,18); for such are an abomination to the Lord; nor will he direct their goings, or prosper and succeed them in their ways: but of a good man, or righteous man, as Aben Ezra; who thinks of the way in which he should go, and desires to walk in a right way, as Jarchi; and who is influenced by the Spirit and grace of God to think and act in this manner; for otherwise the way of man is not in himself; it is not of his own devising and finding out; nor is his disposition to walk in it of himself; and it…”

“(Compare Pro 16:3). directeth--establisheth.”

“Deviseth his way - i. e., Thinks it out with anxious care; yet it is the Lord and He only who directs the steps. Compare Proverbs 16:1. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Deviseth - Proposes what he will do. Directeth - Over - rules and disposes all his designs and actions. Proverbs 16:10”

“Pro 16:1, Pro 19:21, Pro 20:24, Pro 21:30; Psa 37:23; Isa 46:10; Jer 10:23 Proverbs 16:10”

“9 The heart of man deviseth his way; But Jahve directeth his steps. Similar to this is the German proverb: "Der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt" \[= our "man proposes, God disposes"\], and the Arabic el-‛abd (העבד = man) judebbir wallah juḳaddir; Latin, homo proponit, Deus disponit; for, as Hitzig rightly remarks, 9b means, not that God maketh his steps firm (Venet., Luther, Umbreit, Bertheau, Elster), but that He gives direction to him (Jerome, dirigere). Man deliberates here and there (חשּׁב, intens. of חשׁב, to calculate, reflect) how he will begin and carry on this or that; but his short-sightedness leaves much out of view which God sees; his calculation does not comprehend many contingencies…”