New International Version
Proverbs 20:24
24A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their 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?
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?
Context of Proverbs 20:24
22Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. 23The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? 25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. 26A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives 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 makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
- Jeremiah 10:23Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.
- Daniel 5:23Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
- Acts 17:28‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
- Proverbs 16:9In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
- Psalms 25:4Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
- Isaiah 10:6I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud 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
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