New English Translation
Proverbs 20:24
24The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord – so how can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
- New International Version (NIV)A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?
- English Standard Version (ESV)A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?
- New King James Version (NKJV)A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?
Context of Proverbs 20:24
22Do not say, “I will pay back evil!” Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you. 23The Lord abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked. The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord – so how can anyone understand his own way? 25It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!” and only afterward to consider what he has vowed. 26A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:24 word by word
מֵיהוָ֥ה מִצְעֲדֵי־גָ֑בֶר וְ֝אָדָ֗ם מַה־יָּבִ֥ין דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:24
- Psalms 37:23The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.
- Jeremiah 10:23Lord, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.
- Daniel 5:23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways!
- Acts 17:28For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
- Proverbs 16:9A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.
- Psalms 25:4Make me understand your ways, O Lord! Teach me your paths!
- Isaiah 10:6I sent him against a godless nation, I ordered him to attack the people with whom I was angry, to take plunder and to carry away loot, to trample them down like dirt in the streets.
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Man's goings are of the Lord - He, by his providence, governs all the great concerns of the world. Man often traverses these operations; but he does it to his own damage. An old writer quaintly says: "They who will carve for themselves shall cut their fingers."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24The order of a man‘s life is a mystery even to himself. He knows not where he is going, or for what God is educating him.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24Verse 24 How can we form plans, and conduct business, independently of the Lord?Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24God clearly guides our steps (see Proverbs 16:1, 9, 33). We do not need to understand why things happen. We should not lose hope because God is in control.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. Man's goings--literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man." a man--any common man. understand--or, "perceive."Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 20
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries