"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
— Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of the most memorized passages in the Bible. This page gives the verses, the chapter they sit in, and a plain reading. For more verses on the theme, see Bible verses about trust, Bible verses about wisdom, and Bible verses about guidance.
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The verses
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) reads: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
The King James says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." The Hebrew word for "trust" is batach (H982), meaning to rely on or feel secure in. "Make straight" (KJV "direct") is yashar (H3474), meaning to be straight, level, or smooth.
Where they sit in Proverbs
Proverbs 3 is a father's teaching to his son. It opens, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart" (Proverbs 3:1). Right after verses 5-6 comes a warning: "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil" (Proverbs 3:7).
So the passage sets two kinds of trust side by side: trusting the LORD, or leaning on your own understanding and being wise in your own eyes.
What the verses are saying
"All your heart" means trust that is whole, not divided. "Lean not on your own understanding" does not mean stop thinking. It means do not make your own judgment the thing you rest your full weight on. "In all your ways" means every part of life, not only the big decisions.
The promise is that God will make your paths straight: he clears and levels the way ahead for those who rely on him. For more on God's leading, see Bible verses about God's plan and Bible verses about surrender.
Questions people ask
What does Proverbs 3:5-6 say?
In the NIV it says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
What does lean not on your own understanding mean?
It means not resting your full weight on your own judgment. The next verse says, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD" (Proverbs 3:7).
What does he will make your paths straight mean?
The Hebrew word means to make straight, level, or smooth. The picture is God clearing the road ahead for those who trust him. The KJV says, "he shall direct thy paths."
Who wrote Proverbs 3:5-6?
Proverbs 1:1 introduces the book as "the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel." Chapter 3 is written as a father teaching his son.
What verse goes well with Proverbs 3:5-6?
Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of God's plans "to give you hope and a future." For more on trust, see Bible verses about faith.
