PROV 21:2 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.)

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 Πᾶς ἀνὴρ φαίνεται ἑαυτῷ δίκαιος, κατευθύνει δὲ καρδίας Κύριος.
(Pas anaʸr fainetai heautōi dikaios, kateuthunei de kardias Kurios. )

UST People always think that what they do is right,
⇔ but Yahweh rightly evaluates why they do those things.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
⇔ but the LORD weighs the hearts.

WMBB (Same as above)

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

LSV Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes,
And YHWH is pondering hearts.

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

T4T ⇔ People always think that what they do is right,
⇔ but Yahweh judges our ◄motives/reasons for doing things► [MTY].

LEB • Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs hearts.[fn]

21:? Or “minds”

BBE Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

Moff Man’s ways are always right in his own eyes,
⇔ but the Eternal has the verdict on his life.

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

ASV Every way of a man is right in his own eyes;
⇔ But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.

DRA Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.

YLT Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.

Drby Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.

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

SLT Every way of a man right in his eyes: and Jehovah will prepare hearts.

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

KJB-1769 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
(Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth/ponders the hearts. )

KJB-1611 Euery way of a man is right in his owne eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Euery mans way seemeth right in his owne eyes: but the Lorde pondereth the heart.
(Every mans way seemeth right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth/ponders the heart.)

Gnva Euery way of a man is right in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
(Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth/ponders the hearts. )

Cvdl Euery man thinketh his owne waye to be right, but the LORDE iudgeth ye hertes.
(Every man thinketh/thinks his own way to be right, but the LORD judgeth ye/you_all hearts.)

Wycl Ech weye of a man semeth riytful to hym silf; but the Lord peisith the hertis.
(Each way of a man seemeth/seems rightful to himself; but the Lord peisith the hearts.)

Luth Einen jeglichen dünkt sein Weg recht sein; aber allein der HErr macht die Herzen gewiß.
(A/One anyone seems be way/path/road right be; but alone the/of_the LORD power the heart(s) certainly.)

ClVg Omnis via viri recta sibi videtur: appendit autem corda Dominus.
(Everyone way/road men straight to_himself it_seems: appendit however hearts Master. )

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

21:2

Notice the parallel pairs that contrast in meaning:

^2a All a man’s ways seem right to him,

^2bbut the LORD weighs the heart.

This proverb contrasts a person’s own opinion of the good things that he does with the evaluation of the LORD regarding the person’s inner motives. This verse is almost identical to 16:2. The following notes will mention any minor wording differences.

21:2a

All a man’s ways seem right to him,

A person may think that each one of his actions is good/right,
Everything that we^(incl) do seems to be right in our own opinion/viewpoint,

All a man’s ways seem right to him: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (ESV). 16:2a has “All the ways of a man are pure…” (ESV). See the notes there. There is little difference in meaning. Some versions translate them the same way.

21:2b

but the LORD weighs the heart.

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

but the LORD weighs the heart: In Hebrew, this verse has “hearts.” Verse 16:2b has “spirits.” See the notes there. Both verses indicate that the LORD evaluates or examines a person’s thoughts, motives, or intentions.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דֶּרֶךְ

road/way_of

See how you translated the same use of way in [1:15](../01/15.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 phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “any person … in that person’s eyes”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יָשָׁ֣ר בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י⁠ו

right in,his_own_of,eyes

See how you translated the same phrase in [12:15](../12/15.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠תֹכֵ֖ן & יְהוָֽה

and_[is],weighing & YHWH

See how you translated this phrase in [16:2](../16/02.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִבּ֣וֹת

hearts

See how you translated the same use of hearts in [15:11](../15/11.md).

Parallel PROV 21:2

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

21:2

21:2a

21:2b