New King James Version
Proverbs 20:24
24A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man 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 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 will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you. 23Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good. A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? 25It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings 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 steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
- Jeremiah 10:23O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
- Daniel 5:23And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
- Acts 17:28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, But the folly of fools is deceit.
- Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
- Psalms 25:4Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
- Isaiah 10:6I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of 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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries