GOD'S Plans for You

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

21 You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

A Handbook on Proverbs 19:21

19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man: See 16:1, 9 for a similar thought. Mind, as usual in Hebrew, is “heart.” “Plans” in 6:18 renders the same word as here. There, however, the “plans” are “wicked.” In this verse plans seem to be neutral. NRSV has “The human mind may devise many plans.”

But it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established: This line is literally “but the plan of the Lord it will stand.” Regardless of the schemes or plans that people have, they will be overruled by the Lord’s own plan. In this context the sense of will be established is “will stand firm” or “will prevail” (REB, NLT). CEV translates the whole saying “We may make a lot of plans, but the Lord will do what he has decided.”