Text -- Proverbs 16:9 (NET)

16:9 A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 16:9

¹ tn Heb “the heart of a man.” This stresses that it is within the heart that plans are made. Only those plans that are approved by God will succeed.

² tn Heb “his way” (so KJV, NASB).

³ tn The verb כּוּן (kun, “to establish; to confirm”) with צַעַד (tsa’ad, “step”) means “to direct” (e.g., Ps 119:133; Jer 10:23). This contrasts what people plan and what actually happens – God determines the latter.

⁴ sn “Steps” is an implied comparison, along with “way,” to indicate the events of the plan as they work out.