Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps. The Israelites usually asked counsel of God by the Ephod, the Grecians by their Oracles, the Persians by their Magi, the Egyptians by their Hierophants, the Indians by their Gymno-sophistae, the ancient Gauls and Britons by their Druids, the Romans by their Augurs and Soothsayers. It was not lawful to propose any matter of moment in the senate before their wizards had made observations from the heavens. That which they did superstitiously, we may, nay, we ought to do in another sense religiously, conscionably, i.e., not to embark ourselves into any action of great importance and consequence before we have observed from heaven, not the flight of birds, nor the houses of planets, or their aspects or conjunctions, but the countenance of God, whether it shineth upon our enterprises or not, whether He approves of our designs or not. (J. Spencer.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. |
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