21:1 Synthetic. Not only ordinary humans, but even kings are thoroughly under the Lord’s control. The watercourse is an irrigation channel, subject to the design of the gardener.

21:2 Antithetic. The possibilities of self-deception are enormous; the LORD alone knows the truth of a person’s heart (a catchword with v. 1). See 16:2 and comment, as well as 17:3.

21:3 This is a frequent biblical theme (cf. v. 27; 15:8, and the so-called prophetic critique of sacrifice; also Sir. 34:21–35:8).

21:4 The MT is ambiguous. Verse 4a is a kind of casus pendens that is taken up by lamp in verse 4b. Thus the hubris of the sinner is the guide to wrongdoing. This interpretation of the NIV rests on the reading of lamp for “tillage” of the MT; see Additional Notes. Perhaps the MT can be explained in the s…