MAN PROPOSES BUT GOD DISPOSES

Man proposes but God disposes

The quotation Man proposes but God disposes may come down to us as a direct translation from a work of devotion written in Latin by Thomas a Kempis. This work, his celebrated Of the Imitation of Christ, is the second most widely read christian text after the Bible itself. It contains many sensitively and wisely expressed insights into spirituality and morals. In Chapter 19 of Book 1 we find :- "For the resolutions of the just depend rather on the grace of God than on their own wisdom; and in Him they always put their trust, whatever they take in hand. For man proposes, but God disposes; neither is the way of man in his own hands". The exact Latin phrase translating as man proposes, but God disposes; being Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit; Many of the numerous insights contained in the Of the Imitation of Christ are very well phrased and judiciously expressed restatements of insights that themselves originate in the Bible. In relation to this insight that man proposes but God disposes there are several originals in the Bible to chose from:- Thus in the Book of Proverbs, attributed to Solomon the Wise, we read:- A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9 and again in Proverbs 19:21:- MAN CAN PLAN ALL THEY WANT BUT GOD HOLDS THE KEY TO EVERY PLAN.