Pro 16:2 | NETfull | STEP | All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives.

Proverbs 16:2

2 All a person’s ways ^{▼▼ Heb “ways of a man.”} seem right ^{▼▼ The Hebrew term translated “right” (zakh) means “innocent” (NIV) or “pure” (NAB, NRSV, NLT). It is used in the Bible for pure oils or undiluted liquids; here it means unmixed actions. Therefore on the one hand people rather naively conclude that their actions are fine.} in his own opinion, ^{▼▼ Heb “in his eyes.”}
but the Lord evaluates ^{▼▼ The figure (a hypocatastasis) of “weighing” signifies “evaluation” (e.g., Exod 5:8; 1 Sam 2:3; 16:7; Prov 21:2; 24:12). There may be an allusion to the Egyptian belief of weighing the heart after death to determine righteousness. But in Hebrew thought it is an ongoing evaluation as well, not merely an evaluation after death.} the motives. ^{▼▼ Heb “spirits” (so KJV, ASV). This is a metonymy for the motives, the intentions of the heart (e.g., 21:2 and 24:2).} ^{▼▼ Humans deceive themselves rather easily and so appear righteous in their own eyes; but the proverb says that God evaluates motives and so he alone can determine if the person’s ways are innocent.}