Proverbs 5 · Verse 21

Proverbs 5:21

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
Proverbs 5:21, King James Version

Proverbs 5:21 in other translations

BSBFor a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
WEBFor the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
ASVFor the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.
YLTFor over-against the eyes of Jehovah are the ways of each, And all his paths He is pondering.
DARBYFor the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and he pondereth all his paths.
BBEFor a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he puts all his goings in the scales.
WebsterFor the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

What does Proverbs 5:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. The reason, God's eye is on you,

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 For the ways of a man - Whether they are public or private, God sees all the steps thou takest in life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 5:15-23

Lawful marriage is a means God has appointed to keep from these destructive vices. But we are not properly united, except as we attend to God's word, seeking his direction and blessing, and acting with affection. Ever remember, that though secret sins may escape the eyes of our fellow-creatures, yet a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, who not only sees, but ponders all his goings. Those who are so foolish…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 5:15-23 →

Proverbs 5:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
נֹ֨כַח\׀No.khachbeforeH5227
עֵינֵ֣י'ei.Nei[the] eyes ofH5869
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
דַּרְכֵי\־dar.khei-[the] ways ofH1870
אִ֑ישׁ'Isha personH376
וְֽכָל\־ve.kholand allH3605
מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥יוma'.ge.lo.Tavtracks hisH4570
מְפַלֵּֽס\׃me.fa.Les[he is] making levelH6424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 5:21

  • Hebrews 4:13

    Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • Proverbs 15:3

    The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

  • Job 34:21

    For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

  • Jeremiah 32:19

    Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

  • Jeremiah 16:17

    For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

  • Psalms 11:4

    The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

  • Jeremiah 23:24

    Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

  • Hosea 7:2

    And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

  • Psalms 119:168

    I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

  • Job 31:4

    Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

  • Jeremiah 17:10

    I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

  • Psalms 139:1-12

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
15:3; 2Ch 16:9; Job 31:4; 34:21; Ps 11:4; 17:3; 139:1-12; Jer 16:17
Jer 17:10; 23:24; 32:19; Ho 7:2; Heb 4:13; Re 2:18,23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 5:20

    And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

  • Proverbs 5:21

    For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

  • Proverbs 5:22

    His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Read all of Proverbs 5

Proverbs 5:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Pues que los caminos del hombre están ante los ojos de Jehová, y él considera todas sus veredas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Car les voies de l’homme sont devant les yeux de l’ Éternel, et il pèse tous ses chemins.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn vor den Augen Jehovas sind eines jeden Wege, und alle seine Geleise wägt er ab.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Respicit Dominus vias hominis, et omnes gressus ejus considerat.