Bible Strands
Psalms 37:23
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David, in a maskil, addresses the righteous who are watching the wicked prosper. The verse sits between the promise that the blessed inherit the land (v. 22) and the assurance that the LORD holds the hand of the one who falls (v. 24).
The words — כּוֹנָ֗נוּ (kōnannû), "established," shares its root with the word for "foundation"; the steps are not merely guided but set in place. יֶחְפָּֽץ (yechpāts), "he delights in," carries the sense of active desire rather than passive approval.
The thread — Proverbs 16:9 pairs human planning with divine determination of steps; Psalms 119:133 asks the LORD to order the psalmist's steps in His word.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop managing their own trajectory and accept that the One who sets the steps also takes pleasure in the walk. The anxiety of self-direction is the thing being released.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Psalms 119:133 Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
- Proverbs 4:26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
- 1 Samuel 2:9 He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
- Psalms 40:2 He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
- Psalms 121:8 The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
- Psalms 85:13 Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.
- Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
- Psalms 121:3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
- Psalms 147:10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.