complete verse (Proverbs 21:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 21:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person thinks that what he is doing is good,
    but God is the one who knows how the thoughts of a person are.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The people’s thoughts all seem right to them.
    But the Lord tests their hearts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It is) possible that we (incl.) are-thinking that everything we (incl.) do is surely right, but only the LORD can-judge what is really our (incl.) motive.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In the viewpoint of people, what they do is totally/all correct, but God knows their purposes/motives.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People always think that what they do is right,
    but Yahweh judges our motives/reasons for doing things.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 21:2

This verse is almost identical with 16.2. Here it continues the theme of verse 1, the Lord‘s control of the thoughts, motives, and plans of people.

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes”: See 16.2 for comments. Here the term “right” is used rather than “pure,” but the sense is the same.

“But the Lord weighs the heart”: Here the Hebrew has “the heart” (literally the plural “hearts”) rather than “spirits,” which is used in 16.2; but again the sense is the same. It refers to the thoughts or motives of people: “the Lord judges your motives” (Good News Translation).

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 21:2

21:2

Notice the parallel pairs that contrast in meaning:

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

2b but 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: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (English Standard Version). 16:2a has “All the ways of a man are pure…” (English Standard Version). 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: 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.

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