Psalms 37:23

Amplified Bible

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
The steps of a man are established by the Lord , when he delights in his way;

Geneva Bible (1587)
The pathes of man are directed by the Lord: for he loueth his way.

Christian Standard Bible®
A person’s steps are established by the Lord,and he takes pleasure in his way.

Hebrew Names Version
A man's goings are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.

Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord shows us how we should live, and he is pleased when he sees people living that way.

American Standard Version
A man's goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.

Contemporary English Version
If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure.

Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai directs a person's steps, and he delights in his way.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is of the LORD that a man's goings are established; and He delighted in his way.

King James Version (1611)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The steps of a man are rightly ordered by the Lord: and he will take pleasure in his way.

English Revised Version
A man's goings are established of the LORD; and he delighteth in his way.

Berean Standard Bible
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.

Lexham English Bible
The steps of a man are established by Yahweh, and he takes pleasure in his way.

Literal Translation
The steps of a good man are established from Jehovah; and He will delight in his way.

New Century Version
When people's steps follow the Lord , God is pleased with their ways.

New English Translation
The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.

New King James Version
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

New Living Translation
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

New Life Bible
The steps of a good man are led by the Lord. And He is happy in his way.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
From Yahweh, are the steps of a man made firm, When, with his way, he is well pleased:

Douay-Rheims Bible
(36-23) With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way.

George Lamsa Translation
The steps of a good man are established by the LORD; he sets his course.

Good News Translation
The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him.

New American Standard Bible
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

King James Version
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The pathes of man is directed by God: and his way pleaseth.

New Revised Standard
Our steps are made firm by the Lord , when he delights in our way;

Darby Translation
The steps of a man are established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way:

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The goyng of a man schal be dressid anentis the Lord; and he schal wilne his weie.

Young's Literal Translation
From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, They have been prepared, And his way he desireth.

World English Bible
A man's goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.

Revised Standard Version
The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights;

Update Bible Version
A [noble] man's goings are established of Yahweh; And he delights in his way.

Webster's Bible Translation
The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Bible in Basic English
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The LORDE ordreth a good mans goinge, & hath pleasure in his waye.

THE MESSAGE
Stalwart walks in step with God ; his path blazed by God , he's happy. If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
The steps of a man are established by the Lord , And He delights in his way.

Legacy Standard Bible
The footsteps of a man are established by Yahweh,And He delights in his way.

Contextual Overview

²¹The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives. ²²For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off. ²³The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].²⁴When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him. ²⁵I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned Or his descendants pleading for bread. ²⁶All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing. ²⁷Depart from evil and do good; And you will dwell [securely in the land] forever. ²⁸For the LORD delights in justice And does not abandon His saints (faithful ones); They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will [in time] be cut off. ²⁹The righteous will inherit the land And live in it forever. ³⁰The mouth of the righteous proclaims wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice and truth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

steps: Psalms 17:5, Psalms 85:13, Psalms 119:133, Psalms 121:3, Psalms 121:8, 1 Samuel 2:9, Job 23:11, Job 23:12, Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 10:23

ordered: or, established, Psalms 40:2, Proverbs 4:26

delighteth: Psalms 147:10, Proverbs 11:1, Proverbs 11:20, Jeremiah 9:24, Hebrews 13:16

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 29:10 - General 2 Chronicles 19:11 - the good Psalms 7:9 - but Psalms 18:19 - because Psalms 25:10 - the paths Psalms 25:12 - him Psalms 37:31 - none Psalms 66:9 - suffereth Psalms 94:18 - My foot Proverbs 2:8 - and Proverbs 3:23 - General Proverbs 20:24 - Man's Acts 11:24 - he was 2 Corinthians 1:21 - stablisheth 1 Peter 1:5 - kept

Cross-References

Genesis 37:3
Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a [distinctive] multicolored tunic.

Genesis 37:31
Then they took Joseph's tunic, slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood;

Genesis 37:33
He recognized it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces!"

Genesis 42:21
And they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty regarding our brother [Joseph], because we saw the distress and anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us [to let him go], yet we would not listen [to his cry]; so this distress and anguish has come on us."

Psalms 22:18
They divide my clothing among them And cast lots for my garment.

Matthew 27:28
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on Him [as a king's robe].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the Lord,.... Or "of a man" w; such a man as is blessed of the Lord; the steps which he takes in life are ordered by the Lord, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual: his good conduct is not of himself, it is a blessing of the Lord, who directs and keeps the feet of his saints, and inclines them to take such steps, and pursue such methods, which he succeeds and prospers;

and he delighteth in his way; which he knows and approves of, guides and directs him in; see Psalms 1:6.

w גבר "hominis", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord - Margin, “established.” The word rendered “ordered” means to stand erect; to set up; to found; to adjust, fit, direct. The idea here is, that all which pertains to the journey of a good man through life is directed, ordered, fitted, or arranged by the Lord. That is, his course of life is under the divine guidance and control. The word “good” has been supplied here by our translators, and there is nothing corresponding to it in the original. It is simply there, “the steps of man are ordered,” etc. Yet there can be no doubt that a good or pious man is particularly referred to, for the connection demands this interpretation. The word “steps” here means his course of life; the way in which he goes.

And he delighteth in his way - In his course of life; and, therefore, he blesses him. The general idea is that he is the object of the divine favor, and is under the care of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 37:23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord — There is nothing for good in the text. גבר geber is the original word, and it properly signifies a strong man, a conqueror or hero; and it appears to be used here to show, that even the most powerful must be supported by the Lord, otherwise their strength and courage will be of little avail.

And he delighteth in his way. — When his steps are ordered by the Lord, he delighteth in his way, because it is that into which his own good Spirit has directed him. Or, the man delights in God's way-in the law and testimonies of his Maker.