46 Heb “man.”
47 Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
48 814 פָּלַס 2 suggests that the participle מְפַּלֵּס (mépalles) means “to make level [or, straight].” As one’s ways are in front of the eyes of the Lord, they become straight or right. It could be translated “weighs” since it is a denominative from the noun for “balance, scale”; the Lord weighs or examines the actions.
49 Heb “all his”; the referent (the person mentioned in the first half of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
50 The suffix on the verb is the direct object suffix; “the wicked” is a second object by apposition: They capture him, the wicked. Since “the wicked” is not found in the , it could be an old scribal error; or the Greek translator may have simply smoothed out the sentence. C. H. Toy suggests turning the sentence into a passive idea: “The wicked will be caught in his iniquities” (Proverbs [], ).
51 The word is the subject of the clause, but the pronominal suffix has no clear referent. The suffix is proleptic, referring to the wicked.
52 Heb “his own iniquities will capture the wicked.” The translation shifts the syntax for the sake of smoothness and readability.
53 The lack of discipline and control in the area of sexual gratification is destructive. The one who plays with this kind of sin will become ensnared by it and led to ruin.
54 The Hebrew is structured chiastically: “his own iniquities will capture the wicked, by the cords of his own sin will he be held.”
55 The preposition בּ (bet) is used in a causal sense: “because” (cf. , , ).
56 The word אִוַּלְתּוֹ (’ivvalto, “his folly”) is from the root אול and is related to the noun אֶוִיל (’evil, “foolish; fool”). The noun אִוֶּלֶת (’ivvelet, “folly”) describes foolish and destructive activity. It lacks understanding, destroys what wisdom builds, and leads to destruction if it is not corrected.
57 The verb שָׁגָה (shagah, “to swerve; to reel”) is repeated in a negative sense. If the young man is not captivated by his wife but is captivated with a stranger in sinful acts, then his own iniquities will captivate him and he will be led to ruin.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,

and he ponders all his paths.

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,

and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

He dies for lack of discipline,

and because of his great folly he is led astray.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

and he examines all your paths.

The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

the cords of their sins hold them fast.

For lack of discipline they will die,

led astray by their own great folly.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes,

and he considers all his paths.

A wicked man’s iniquities will trap him;

he will become tangled in the ropes of his own sin.

He will die because there is no discipline,

and be lost because of his great stupidity.

NLTNew Living Translation

For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,

examining every path he takes.

An evil man is held captive by his own sins;

they are ropes that catch and hold him.

He will die for lack of self-control;

he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For before the eyes of Yahweh are human ways,

and all his paths he examines.

His iniquities shall ensnare him, the evildoer,

and in the vanity of his sin he shall be caught.

He shall die for lack of discipline,

and in the greatness of his folly he shall be lost.

KJV 1900King James Version

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,

And he pondereth all his goings.

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself,

And he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

He shall die without instruction;

And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Public Domain