16:9 A person 1 plans his course, 2
but the Lord directs 3 his steps. 4
25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, 5
and the Lord will reward you. 6
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.
5 sn The imagery of the “burning coals” represents pangs of conscience, more readily effected by kindness than by violence. These coals produce the sharp pain of contrition through regret (e.g., 18:19; 20:22; 24:17; Gen 42-45; 1 Sam 24:18-20; Rom 12:20). The coals then would be an implied comparison with a searing conscience.
6 sn The second consequence of treating enemies with kindness is that the