21:29

This proverbs contrasts the behavior of a wicked person with the behavior of an upright person.

29a
A wicked man hardens his face,

29b but the upright man makes his way sure.

The contrast is not exact. The parallel lines imply that a wicked person does not think about his actions. They also imply that an upright person does not deceive others by acting in an over-confident way.

21:29a

A wicked man hardens his face: The figure of speech that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hardens his face is literally “makes strong with his face.” This figure of speech indicates that:

(a) The true character of the wicked is hidden behind false pretenses.

(b) Wicked people boldly pretend that everything they do is good. But the truth is that they are wicked in character.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

A wicked person shows boldness with his face (NET Bible)
-or-
Wicked people bluff their way (Contemporary English Version)

21:29b

but the upright man makes his way sure: There is a textual issue here with the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as makes…sure. There are two options in the Masoretic Text:

(1) The first option is the verb makes…sure or “considers.” With this option, the line means that the upright person carefully thinks about his conduct. He considers what he is doing now and what he plans to do in the future. For example:

but as for the upright, he discerns his ways (NET Bible)

(2) The second option is the verb “makes firm.” With this option, the line means that the upright person is certain about his conduct. He is confident that what he does and what he will do in the future are right. For example:

but as for the upright, he makes his way sure (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The meaning of this option is very similar to 14:8a.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

but good people think carefully about what they do (New Century Version)
-or-
but the virtuous think before they act (New Living Translation (2004))

the upright man: The word upright was last used in 21:18b. Also see the note in 11:3a.

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