19:21
Notice the contrasts between the parallel lines:
Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
The main contrast is between a person’s plans and the LORD’s purpose. A person’s plans may or may not be accomplished. The LORD’s purpose definitely will be accomplished. Another contrast is between the many plans that a person makes and the single purpose that the LORD has.
The purpose of this proverb is to emphasize that the LORD will carry out what he has decided to do. It is not to discourage people from making plans.
Other verses that contrast human plans with the LORD’s prevailing purpose are 16:1 and 16:9.
19:21a
Many plans are in a man’s heart: The word heart refers to the mind or mental faculties. Some other ways to translate this clause are:
There are many plans in a person’s mind (NET Bible)
-or-
People may plan all kinds of things (Good News Translation)
-or-
You can make many plans (New Living Translation (2004))
Notice that the Good News Translation and New Living Translation (2004) make the location of a person’s plans implicit. The Berean Standard Bible and NET Bible make them explicit. You may follow either approach, depending on what is natural in your language.
19:21b
but the purpose of the LORD will prevail: In Hebrew as well as in the Berean Standard Bible, the word order emphasizes the LORD’s purpose in contrast to human plans. Some other ways to translate this clause are:
but it is the Lord ’s plan that is accomplished (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
but only the Lord ’s plan will happen (New Century Version)
-or-
but the Lord will do what he has decided (Contemporary English Version)
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