Proverbs 16:9 (YLT)

Passage

The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:8 Better <FI>is<Fi> a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.

Proverbs 16:10 An oath <FI>is<Fi> on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

Proverbs 16:11 A just beam and balances <FI>are<Fi> Jehovah's, His work <FI>are<Fi> all the stones of the bag.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "heart", "deviseth", "jehovah", "establisheth", and "step". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "heart" and "deviseth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Better FI is Fi a little with..." into verse 10's "An oath FI is Fi on the...", so "heart" and "deviseth" 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 "heart" and "deviseth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.