“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes”: “The ways” refers to actions, behavior, or conduct, in contrast to plans and reflections in verse 1. “Pure” in relation to human behavior means to be morally upright, without fault or wrong. “In his” “own eyes” means “in his opinion” or “from his own point of view.”

“But the Lord weighs the spirit”: “The spirit” is literally “spirits” and refers here to human nature and its motives. To “weigh spirits” is to test or judge the aims, purposes, or motives of the person.

We may need to adjust this saying in translation by saying, for example, “A person may think he is right in everything he does, but the Lord examines the heart” or “. . . but the Lord looks inside people.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .