Proverbs 16:33
New International Version
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

New Living Translation
We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.

English Standard Version
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

King James Bible
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

New King James Version
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

NASB 1995
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

NASB 1977
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every judgment is from Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

American Standard Version
The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
We make our own decisions, but the LORD alone determines what happens.

English Revised Version
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The dice are thrown, but the LORD determines every outcome.

Good News Translation
People cast lots to learn God's will, but God himself determines the answer.

International Standard Version
The dice is cast into someone's lap, but the outcome is from the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

NET Bible
The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposing of it is from the LORD.

World English Bible
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The lot is cast into the center, "" And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!

Young's Literal Translation
Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah is all its judgment!

Smith's Literal Translation
In the bosom he shall, cast the lot; and from Jehovah all his judgment.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.

New American Bible
Into the bag the lot is cast, but from the LORD comes every decision.

New Revised Standard Version
The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the LORD’s alone.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The evil of the vicious falls into his own bosom; and his judgment proceeds from before the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Into the breast of the vicious his portion falls; from before LORD JEHOVAH goes forth his judgment.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
All evils come upon the ungodly into their bosoms; but all righteous things come of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Reply of the Tongue is from the LORD
32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Cross References
Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.

Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Isaiah 46:9-10
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. / I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

Job 42:2
“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

Lamentations 3:37
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?

Acts 1:24-26
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen / to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” / Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 1:11
In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

James 4:13-15
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.


Treasury of Scripture

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Numbers 26:55
Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

Joshua 7:14
In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.

Joshua 18:5,10
And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north…

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Proverbs 16
1. The Plans of the heart














The lot
In ancient times, casting lots was a common practice used to make decisions or discern divine will. The Hebrew word for "lot" is "goral," which refers to small stones or pieces used in this process. This practice is seen throughout the Old Testament, such as in the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel (Joshua 18:10). The use of lots underscores the belief in God's sovereignty, as even seemingly random events are under His control.

is cast
The act of casting lots involved physically throwing or drawing lots to determine an outcome. This action symbolizes human effort and decision-making processes. However, the passive voice "is cast" suggests that while humans perform the action, the ultimate outcome is not in their hands, but rather in God's.

into the lap
The phrase "into the lap" refers to the practice of casting lots into the fold of a garment or a container. The Hebrew word "cheq" can mean "bosom" or "lap," indicating a personal and intimate space. This imagery suggests that while humans may hold the lots, the results are not theirs to control, emphasizing the personal nature of God's involvement in human affairs.

but its every decision
The word "decision" in Hebrew is "mishpat," which can also mean "judgment" or "verdict." This indicates that the outcome of casting lots is not random but is a deliberate and purposeful decision. The use of "every" emphasizes the totality of God's control over all outcomes, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

is from the LORD
The name "LORD" here is the tetragrammaton "YHWH," the personal name of God, highlighting His covenant relationship with His people. This phrase affirms the belief in God's absolute sovereignty and providence. It reassures believers that God is actively involved in the world and that nothing happens outside His will. This understanding encourages trust and reliance on God, knowing that He guides and directs all aspects of life.

(33) The lot is cast into the lap . . .--In other words, much that we attribute to chance is due to the providence of God. (Comp. Matthew 10:29-30.) This should be an encouragement to trust in Him.

Verse 33. - The lot is cast into the lap. The bosom or fold of the garment (Proverbs 6:27; Proverbs 17:23; Proverbs 21:14). It is not quite clear what articles the Jews used in their divinations by lot. Probably they employed stones, differing in shape or colour, or having some distinguishing mark. These were placed in a vessel or in the fold of a garment, and drawn or shaken thence. Such a practice has been common in all ages and countries; and though only cursorily mentioned in the Mosaic legislation (Numbers 26:55), it was used by the Jews from the time of Joshua, and in the earliest days of the Christian Church (see Joshua 18:10; Judges 20:9; 1 Samuel 10:20, 21; Acts 1:28, etc.). As by this means man's agency was minimized, and all partiality and chicanery were excluded, the decision was regarded as directed by Providence. There is one case only of ordeal in the Law, and that under suspicion of adultery (Numbers 5:12, etc.). In the Epistle to the Hebrews, in place of the lot we read (Hebrews 6:16), "An oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife." The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. In these cases the Jew learned to see, in what we call chance, the overruling of Divine power. But this was not blind superstition. He did not feel justified in resorting to this practice on every trivial occasion, as persons used the Sortes Virgilianae or even the verses of the Bible for the same purpose. The lot was employed religiously in cases where other means of decision were not suitable or available; it was not to supersede common prudence or careful investigation; but, for example, in trials where the evidence was conflicting and the judges could not determine the case, the merits were ascer-rained by lot (comp. ch. 18:18). After the effusion of the Holy Spirit, the apostles never resorted to divination, and the Christian Church has wisely repudiated the practice of all such modes of discovering the Divine will. Septuagint, "For the unrighteous all things fall into their bosom, but from the Lord are all just things," which may mean either that, though the wicked seem to prosper, God still works out his righteous ends; or the evil suffer retribution, and thus God's justice is displayed.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The lot
הַגּוֹרָ֑ל (hag·gō·w·rāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1486: Lot -- a lot (for casting)

is cast
יוּטַ֣ל (yū·ṭal)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2904: To pitch over, reel, to cast down, out

into the lap,
בַּ֭חֵיק (ba·ḥêq)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2436: The bosom

but its every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

decision
מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ׃ (miš·pā·ṭōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

is from the LORD.
וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 16:32
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