PROV 16:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) People always tell themselves that they’re doing the right thing,
⇔ ^ but Yahweh evaluates their motives.

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ταπεινοῦ φανερὰ παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ ὀλοῦνται.
(Panta ta erga tou tapeinou fanera para tōi Theōi, hoi de asebeis en haʸmera kakaʸ olountai. )

BrTr All the works of the humble man are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.

ULT All the ways of a man are pure in his eyes,
⇔ but Yahweh examines spirits.

UST People think that everything that they do is right,
⇔ but Yahweh knows why people do what they do.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,
⇔ but the LORD weighs the motives.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,
⇔ but the Lord evaluates the motives.

LSV All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
And YHWH is pondering the spirits.

FBV People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their intentions.

T4T ⇔ People may think that their actions are right,
⇔ but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.

LEB • All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirit.[fn]

16:? Or “breath”

BBE All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.

Moff A man’s ways seem all right to himself,
⇔ but the Eternal has the verdict on his life.

JPS All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

ASV All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
⇔ But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.

DRA All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.

YLT All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.

Drby All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.

RV All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

SLT All the ways of man are clean in his eyes, and Jehovah tried the spirits.

Wbstr All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

KJB-1769 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

KJB-1611 All the wayes of a man are cleane in his owne eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps A man thynketh all his wayes to be cleane: but it is the Lorde that iudgeth the myndes.
(A man thynketh all his ways to be clean: but it is the Lord that judgeth the minds.)

Gnva All the wayes of a man are cleane in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the spirits.
(All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth/ponders the spirits. )

Cvdl A ma thinketh all his waies to be clene, but it is ye LORDE yt fashioneth ye myndes.
(A man thinketh/thinks all his ways to be clean, but it is ye/you_all LORD it fashioneth/fashions ye/you_all minds.)

Wycl Alle the weies of men ben opyn to the iyen of God; the Lord is a weiere of spiritis.
(All the ways of men been open to the eyes of God; the Lord is a weiere of spirits.)

Luth Einen jeglichen dünken seine Wege rein sein; aber allein der HErr macht das Herz gewiß.
(A/One anyone seem his ways pure be; but alone the/of_the LORD power the heart certainly.)

ClVg Omnes viæ hominis patent oculis ejus; spirituum ponderator est Dominus.[fn]
(All_of_them ways/roads of_man patent eyes his; of_spirits ponderator it_is Master. )

16.2 Omnes viæ. Ita actiones omnium bonorum, scilicet, et malorum quid in occulto cogitent, certa lance discernit, unde subdit.

16.2 All_of_them ways/roads. Ita actions of_all of_goods, namely, and of_evil what in/into/on hide forcesent, certain lance distinguishes, from_where/who I_submit.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

16:2

Notice the parallel pairs that contrast in meaning:

^2a All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,

^2bbut his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

This proverb contrasts a person’s own opinion of the good things that he does with the LORD’s evaluation of his inner motives.

16:2a

All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,

A person may think that all his actions are entirely good/right,
Everything that a person does seems to be right in his own opinion/viewpoint,

All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes” (ESV). The word that the BSB translates as pure means “innocent” or “unmixed with evil.” The clause means that a person’s conduct is entirely good or right in his own opinion or viewpoint. Another way to express this meaning is:

You may think everything you do is right (GNT)

16:2b

but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

but Yahweh knows if his motives/intentions are good or bad.
but Yahweh examines/determines the true reasons for his actions.

his motives: The word that the BSB translates as motives is literally “spirits.” It refers here to a person’s underlying reasons or intentions for doing something.

are weighed out by the LORD: It is the LORD who figuratively “weighs” motives. This means that he examines or evaluates a person’s motives to determine whether they are truly good or bad.

Another way to translate the meaning of this line is:

but the Lord judges your motives (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דַּרְכֵי

ways_of

See how you translated the same use of ways in [3:6](../03/06.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אִ֭ישׁ & בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י⁠ו

(a)_man & in,his_own_of,eyes

Although the terms man and his are masculine, Solomon is using these words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “any person … in that person’s eyes”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י⁠ו

in,his_own_of,eyes

See how you translated the same use of eyes in [3:4](../03/04.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠תֹכֵ֖ן & יְהוָֽה

and_[is],weighing & YHWH

Here, examines refers to judging or evaluating. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “but Yahweh judges”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

רוּח֣וֹת

motives

Here, spirits refers to the thoughts and motives of people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “people’s thoughts”

Parallel PROV 16:2

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

16:2

16:2a

16:2b