This saying, which brings to a close the first group of proverbs, is similar to verse 1.

“A man’s mind plans his way”: “A man’s mind” is literally, as in verse 1, “a man’s heart,” where “heart” is the center of mental activity, thoughts, and reflections. “Plans his way” refers to all of a person’s activities. New Revised Standard Version says “The human mind plans the way.” Good News Translation prefers “you” as the subject and Contemporary English Version “we.”

“But the Lord directs his steps”: “Directs” renders the same word translated “established” in verse 3. However, in relation to “steps” the word is best rendered as in Revised Standard Version or “leads,” “guides,” or “determines.” “Steps” is rendered literally in many versions, but its sense is similar to that of “way” in the previous line; it refers to a person’s activities, the course of his or her life. We may say, for example, “but the Lord decides the road we will take.”

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 .