Berean Standard Bible
Proverbs 24:12
12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
Proverbs 24:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
- New International Version (NIV)If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
- English Standard Version (ESV)If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
- New King James Version (NKJV)If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
Context of Proverbs 24:12
10If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength! 11Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds? 13Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. 14Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
Read all of Proverbs 24Proverbs 24:12 word by word
כִּֽי־תֹאמַ֗ר הֵן֮ לֹא־יָדַ֪עְנ֫וּ זֶ֥ה הֲֽלֹא־תֹ֘כֵ֤ן לִבּ֨וֹת׀ הֽוּא־יָבִ֗ין וְנֹצֵ֣ר נַ֭פְשְׁךָ ה֣וּא יֵדָ֑ע וְהֵשִׁ֖יב לְאָדָ֣ם כְּפָעֳלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
- Ifכִּיkîy · forH3588
- you sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Beholdהֵןhên · look!H2005
- we did notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- about thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- Heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
- who weighsתָּכַןtâkan · to measureH8505
- heartsלִבָּהlibbâh · heartH3826
- consider itבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- who guardsנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
- your lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- Will He not repayשׁוּבshûb · to return: payH7725
- a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- according to his deedsפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
Cross-references for Proverbs 24:12
- Proverbs 5:21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
- Proverbs 21:2All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
- Psalms 7:9Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
- Psalms 17:3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
- Psalms 44:21would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.
- Jeremiah 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
- Romans 2:16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 2:18To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
- 1 Samuel 2:6The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
- 1 Samuel 25:29And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.
- Psalms 66:9He preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping.
- Psalms 121:3He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
Commentaries on Proverbs 24:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12As Proverbs 24:11 warned men against acquiescing in an unrighteous tyranny, so this denounces the tendency to hush up a wrong with the false plea of ignorance. Compare Ecclesiastes 5:8. Proverbs 24:10-12 thus forms a complete and connected whole.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-12Verses 11-12 If a man know that his neighbour is in danger by any unjust proceeding, he is bound to do all in his power to deliver him. And what is it to suffer immortal souls to perish, when our persuasions and example may be the means of preventing it?Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12Saying 25: Wise people try to stop injustice and suffering (for example, Job 29:12–17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. Neglect of known duty is sin (Jas 4:17). ready--literally, "bowing down" to be slain--that is, unjustly. God's retributive justice cannot be avoided by professed ignorance.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 24:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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