Jeremiah 10:23

Lord, we know that people do not control their own destiny. ¹  It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them. ² 

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

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.

I know, LORD, that a person’s life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course.

I know, GOD, that mere mortals can't run their own lives, That men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life.

O Lord, I am conscious that a man’s way is not in himself: man has no power of guiding his steps.

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

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

Lord, we know that people do not control their own destiny. ¹  It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them. ² 

¹ tn Heb “Not to the man his way.” For the nuance of “fate, destiny, or the way things turn out” for the Hebrew word “way” see Hag 1:5, Isa 40:27 and probably Ps 49:13 (cf. KBL 218 s.v. דֶּרֶךְ 5). For the idea of “control” or “hold in one’s power” for the preposition “to” see Ps 3:8 (cf. BDB 513 s.v. לְ 5.b[a]).

² tn Heb “Not to a man the walking and the establishing his step.”