English Standard Version
Proverbs 21:2
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Proverbs 21:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
- New International Version (NIV)A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
- New Living Translation (NLT)People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
Context of Proverbs 21:2
1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:2 word by word
כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:2
- Proverbs 16:2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
- Proverbs 20:6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
- Proverbs 30:12There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.
- Psalms 36:2For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
- Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- James 1:22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
- Proverbs 24:12If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
- Jeremiah 17:10"I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
- Luke 16:15And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
- John 2:24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
- Revelation 2:23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The Lord pondereth the hearts - Every man feels strongly attached to his own opinions, modes of acting, etc.; and though he will not easily give up any thing to the judgment of a neighbor, whom he will naturally consider at least as fallible as himself, yet he should consider that the unerring eye of God is upon him; and he should endeavor to see that what he does is acceptable in the eye of his Maker and Judge.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2Verse 2 We are partial in judging ourselves and our actions.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This proverb is almost exactly the same in Proverbs 16:2.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Compare Pr 14:2; 16:2-25).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries