A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Parallel translations
- WEB A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
- KJV A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
- BSB A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- ESV The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
- NASB The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
- NLT We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
We plan our path, but the Lord determines our actual steps. It matters because God's sovereign direction governs the unfolding of every human plan.
Overview
This well-known proverb holds together human responsibility and divine sovereignty: we genuinely plan, yet God directs the steps. It calls for humble dependence rather than presumption about the future. The verse reassures believers that their lives are guided by a wise and sovereign God (cf. Proverbs 16:1; James 4:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Prov 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
- Ps 37:23A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.
- Prov 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
- Prov 20:24A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?
- Jer 10:23Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- Isa 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 16:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.