Jeremiah 10:23
New International Version
LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

New Living Translation
I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.

English Standard Version
I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Berean Standard Bible
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

King James Bible
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

New King James Version
O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

New American Standard Bible
I know, LORD, that a person’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a person who walks to direct his steps.

NASB 1995
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

NASB 1977
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

Legacy Standard Bible
I know, O Yahweh, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

Amplified Bible
O LORD, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].

Christian Standard Bible
I know, LORD, that a person’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I know, LORD, that a man’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps.

American Standard Version
O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I know that the way of LORD JEHOVAH is not like that of a son of man, and not like a man who goes and sets his affairs in order

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I know, O Lord, that man's way is not his own; neither shall a man go, and direct his going.

Contemporary English Version
I know, LORD, that we humans are not in control of our own lives.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I know, O Lord, that the way of a man is not his: neither is it in a man to walk, and to direct his steps.

English Revised Version
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
O LORD, I know that the way humans act is not under their control. Humans do not direct their steps as they walk.

Good News Translation
LORD, I know that none of us are in charge of our own destiny; none of us have control over our own life.

International Standard Version
LORD, I know that a person's life is not his to control, nor does a person establish his way in life.

JPS Tanakh 1917
O LORD, I know that man's way is not his own; It is not in man to direct his steps as he walketh.

Literal Standard Version
I have known, O YHWH, that not of man [is] his way, | Not of man [is] the going and establishing of his step.

Majority Standard Bible
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

New American Bible
I know, LORD, that no one chooses their way, Nor determines their course nor directs their own step.

NET Bible
LORD, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.

New Revised Standard Version
I know, O LORD, that the way of human beings is not in their control, that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps.

New Heart English Bible
LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Webster's Bible Translation
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

World English Bible
Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Young's Literal Translation
I have known, O Jehovah, that not of man is his way, Not of man the going and establishing of his step.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah's Prayer
23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps. 24Correct me, O LORD, but only with justice—not in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.…

Cross References
Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 20:24
A man's steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?

Isaiah 26:7
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.

Daniel 5:23
Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.


Treasury of Scripture

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.

Psalm 17:5
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Psalm 119:116,117
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope…

Jump to Previous
Conscious Direct Establishing Guiding Life Power Step Steps Walketh Walks Way
Jump to Next
Conscious Direct Establishing Guiding Life Power Step Steps Walketh Walks Way
Jeremiah 10
1. The unequal comparison of God and idols.
17. The prophet exhorts to flee from the calamity to come.
19. He laments the spoil of the tabernacle by foolish pastors.
23. He makes an humble supplication.














(23) O Lord, I know . . .--The confession is made not by the prophet for himself, but as by and for Israel.

The way of man.--The path which a man takes for good or evil, for failure or success. His conduct in life depends, the prophet says, on something more than his own choice :--

"There's a divinity that shapes our ends,

Rough-hew them how we will."

Compare Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 20:24, as expressing the same thought of the necessity of divine guidance. The two Hebrew words for "man" are used in the two clauses, the first expressing the weakness, the latter the strength of men. Even the strong man has to confess that he needs a hand other than his own to direct his steps.

Verses 23-25. - These verses confirm the view taken above, of the speaker of this whole section. Jeremiah and the people, each is, in a sense, the speaker; but here the prophetic faith seems to run rather in advance of that of his fellow-countrymen. They form, however, a fitting sequel to the charges brought against the people in Jeremiah 9. The speaker admits that he (either the People of Judah personified, or Jeremiah as a representative of its best portion) fully deserves chastisement for having attempted to go his own way (comp. Isaiah 57:17). He has now attained an insight into the truth that man's duty is simply to walk in the path which God has marked out for him. He only asks that Jehovah would chastise him with judgment, or,, more clearly, according to what is just. The contrast is between punishment inflicted in anger, the object of which is to cause pain to the criminal, and that inflicted as a duty of justice, and of which the object is the criminal's reformation" (Payne Smith). The fear expressed, however, is not exactly lest thou bring me to nothing, which is too strong for the Hebrew, but lest thou make me small. Israel was secured against annihilation by the promise of Jehovah, but feared he might possibly survive only as the shadow of his former self.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I know,
יָדַ֣עְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

O LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

that
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a man’s
לָאָדָ֖ם (lā·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

way
דַּרְכּ֑וֹ (dar·kōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

is not his own;
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

no
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

one
לְאִ֣ישׁ (lə·’îš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who walks
הֹלֵ֔ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

directs
וְהָכִ֖ין (wə·hā·ḵîn)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3559: To be erect

his own steps.
צַעֲדֽוֹ׃ (ṣa·‘ă·ḏōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6806: A pace, regular step


Links
Jeremiah 10:23 NIV
Jeremiah 10:23 NLT
Jeremiah 10:23 ESV
Jeremiah 10:23 NASB
Jeremiah 10:23 KJV

Jeremiah 10:23 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 10:23 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 10:23 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 10:23 French Bible
Jeremiah 10:23 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 10:23 Yahweh I know that the way (Jer.)
Jeremiah 10:22
Top of Page
Top of Page