Proverbs 3:6 (ASV)

Passage

In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 3:4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

Proverbs 3:8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ways", "acknowledge", "direct", and "paths". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ways" and "acknowledge", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart..." into verse 7's "Be not wise in thine own eyes...", so "ways" and "acknowledge" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ways" and "acknowledge" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.