The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
The preparations [literally, the orderly disposings, as those of an army in array; or as the loaves of the showbread set in order. Leviticus 24:6-7 : from `aarak (H6186 ), to dispose] of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue (is) from the Lord. The balance of the parallel opposite clauses requires rather the translation, "The preparations" or 'disposings of the heart (are) in (or belonging to lª-) man; but the answer of the (praying) tongue (is) from the Lord.' Man may lay out his plans, but God alone can give them effect, in answer to the tongue of prayer (Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 19:21; 2 Corinthians 3:5). (Maurer.) Mercer takes it, Often what you dispose in the aptest order in your heart, you cannot also express suitably with the tongue. What one aptly speaks is from God. Menochius takes it, Men often determine in heart to say something, but God, overrules their tongue so as to say something utterly different, as in Baalim's case. (Numbers 23:1-30.) So the Chaldaic, Syriac, and Vulgate. The English version is tenable. But the position of 'belonging to man,' at the beginning of the first clause, answers to "from the Lord," at the beginning of the second clause, and supports the translation, 'Belonging to each man х lª'aadaam (H120)] (are) the disposings (or plans) of the heart; but from the Lord (is) the answer of the tongue.'