The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will.
All Commentaries on Proverbs 21:1 Go To Proverbs 21
Jerome
AD 420
The kings of the earth are those who reign over sin; consequently, they who govern sin shall give thanks. The prophet is certainly not referring to the kings of this world, for it is written, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord.” Do you for one moment suppose that the heart of Julian the Apostate was in the hand of God? God forbid! Or of Nero or of Maximianus and Decius, the persecutors? God forbid! No, he is speaking of those who have control over sin, who, because their heart is in the hand of God, have conquered the vices and passions of their soul and thereby prevail over sin. Homilies on the Psalms (Psalm ).
