Proverbs 16:9

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Ver. 9. A man's heart deviseth his way, but God directeth his steps.] Man purposeth, God disposeth of all. Pro 19:21 Events many times cross expectation, "neither is it in man to order his own ways." Jer 10:23 This the heathen saw, and were much troubled at, a as were the Athenians when their good General Nicias lost himself and his army in Sicily. So the Romans when Pompey, Cato, and others, worthy patriots, were worsted by Julius Caesar. Brutus, a wise and valiant man overthrown by Antony, cries out, ω πλημων αρετη, &c., O miserable virtue, thou art a mere slave to fortune! Christians have learned better language, and can set down themselves with sounder reason if crossed of their designs or desires. They know "it is the Lord"; they are "dumb, because it is his doing," and they are "punished less than their deserts." Ezr 9:13 Pompey, that seeing all to go on Caesar's side, said there was a great deal of mist over the eye of Providence, did no better than blame the sun, because of his sore eyes. b

a Aνδρα ορωντες θεοφιλη ουδενος επιεικεστερα τυχη χρηθαι των κακιστων. - Thucyd.

b Dio.