Proverbs 19:20–21
Listen to advice, and remember YHWH's plan is the one that stands
Study it word by word20Listen to counsel and receive correction, so that you may become wise in your end.
21Many are the plans in the heart of a man, but the counsel of YHWH, it will stand.
In its context
18Correct your son, for there is hope, but do not set your soul on putting him to death.
19One great in wrath will bear the penalty; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
…
22What is desirable in a man is his loyal love, and better is a poor man than a man who lies.
23The fear of YHWH leads to life, and satisfied he will spend the night; he will not be visited by evil.
Its words in the original
- שְׁמַעshema· hear, listen, obey
Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.
- עֵצָהetsa· counsel
Counsel: good judgment for deciding; also a plan.
- קַבֵּלkabel· receive; be opposite
Receive, accept; in another form, be opposite one another (Exodus 26:5).
- מוּסָרmusar· discipline, correction
Discipline: teaching that straightens, sometimes with punishment; it comes from the verb "discipline."
- תֶּחְכַּםtechkam· be wise
Be wise, act wisely; in Exodus 1:10, act shrewdly.
- אַחֲרִיתֶacharite· end, future
What comes after: the end, the future; also posterity.
- רַבּוֹתrabot· many, great
Many, much, abundant, great; also "elder" or "chief".
- מַחֲשָׁבוֹתmachashavot· plan, thought; design
Thought, plan, what someone intends; also an artistic design.
- לֶבlev· heart
Heart. In Hebrew it is not only the place of feelings: it is the center of the person, where one thinks, decides and wills; also the middle of something.
- אִישׁish· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- תָקוּםtakum· rise, stand, establish
Rise, stand up; also stand firm, establish or fulfill something. "Rise against" is to attack.