Proverbs 21:2
New International Version
A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.

New Living Translation
People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.

English Standard Version
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Berean Standard Bible
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.

King James Bible
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

New King James Version
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

New American Standard Bible
Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD examines the hearts.

NASB 1995
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

NASB 1977
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

Legacy Standard Bible
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But Yahweh weighs the hearts.

Amplified Bible
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].

Christian Standard Bible
All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs hearts.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.

American Standard Version
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weighteth the hearts.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes, and LORD JEHOVAH sets the heart in order.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.

Contemporary English Version
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.

English Revised Version
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the hearts.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A person thinks everything he does is right, but the LORD weighs hearts.

Good News Translation
You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the LORD judges your motives.

International Standard Version
Every man's lifestyle is proper in his own view, but the LORD weighs the heart.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the hearts.

Literal Standard Version
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, | And YHWH is pondering hearts.

Majority Standard Bible
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.

New American Bible
All your ways may be straight in your own eyes, but it is the LORD who weighs hearts.

NET Bible
All of a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.

New Revised Standard Version
All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the LORD weighs the heart.

New Heart English Bible
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.

Webster's Bible Translation
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

World English Bible
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.

Young's Literal Translation
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The King's Heart
1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases. 2All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.…

Cross References
Luke 16:15
So He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

Proverbs 16:2
All a man's ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

Proverbs 24:12
If you say, "Behold, we did not know about this," does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?


Treasury of Scripture

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.

right

Proverbs 16:2,25
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits…

Proverbs 20:6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 30:12
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

the lord

Proverbs 24:12
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Jeremiah 17:10
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

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Proverbs 21
1. The king's heart in the hand of the Lord














(2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.--See above, on Proverbs 16:2.

Verse 2. - This is similar to Proverbs 16:2 (where see note. Comp. also Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25; Proverbs 20:24). See here a warning against self-deception and that silly self-complacency which thinks its own ways the best. Septuagint, "Every man appears to himself righteous, but the Lord directs the hearts."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָּֽל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

a man’s
אִ֭ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

ways
דֶּרֶךְ־ (de·reḵ-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

seem
בְּעֵינָ֑יו (bə·‘ê·nāw)
Preposition | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

right to him,
יָשָׁ֣ר (yā·šār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

but the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

weighs
וְתֹכֵ֖ן (wə·ṯō·ḵên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8505: To balance, measure out, arrange, equalize, levelling

the heart.
לִבּ֣וֹת (lib·bō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3826: The heart


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right (Prov. Pro Pr)
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