Proverbs 16:9 (GNV)

Passage

The heart of man purposeth his way: but the Lord doeth direct his steppes.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:7 When the wayes of a man please the Lord, he will make also his enemies at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:8 Better is a litle with righteousnesse, then great reuenues without equitie.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man purposeth his way: but the Lord doeth direct his steppes.

Proverbs 16:10 A diuine sentence shalbe in the lips of the King: his mouth shall not transgresse in iudgement.

Proverbs 16:11 A true weight and balance are of the Lord: all the weightes of the bagge are his worke.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "purpose", "heart", "purposeth", "lord", "doeth", "direct", and "steppes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "purpose" and "heart", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Better is a litle with righteousnesse then..." into verse 10's "A diuine sentence shalbe in the lips...", so "purpose" and "heart" 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 "purpose" and "heart" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.