The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
The king's heart (is) in the hand of the Lord, (as) the rivers of water: he turneth it wheresoever he will - with as much ease as gardeners turn waters for irrigation into whatsoever channels they please. The Lord has all men's hearts in his hands; but kings are singled out, as to turn their hearts seems especially difficult, because of their eminence and majesty, and because they are borne along impulsively to whatsoever they are inclined. So "the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia" to invite the Jews to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4). He also turns the hearts of bad kings "to fulfill His will" (Revelation 17:17).