“Omnes viæ hominis patent oculis ejus ; spirituum ponderator est Dominus.”
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”
“All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.”
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.”
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.”
Open. Or approved. (Menochius) — Hebrew, “pure in his own eyes.” He sees not his own defects, chap. xxi. 2., and Job xxviii. 23. (Calmet)
As we read this, it teaches us a great truth, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think or speak any thing of ourselves that is wise and good, but that all our sufficiency is of God, who is with the heart and with the mouth, and works in us both to will and to do, Phil 2 13; Ps 10 17. But most read it otherwise: The preparation of the heart is in man (he may contrive and design this and the other) but the answer of the tongue, not only the delivering of what he designed to speak, but the issue and success of what he designed to do, is of the Lord. That is, in short, 1. Man purposes. He has a freedom of thought and a freedom of will permitted him; let him form his projects, and lay his schemes, as he thinks best: but, after all, 2. God disposes. Man cannot go on with his business without the assistance and blessing of God, who made man's mouth and teaches us what we shall say. Nay, God easily can, and often does, cross men's purposes, and break their measures. It was a curse that was prepared in Balaam's heart, but the answer of the tongue was a blessing.