New American Standard Bible 1995
Proverbs 24:12
12If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not 1consider it 2who weighs the hearts? And 3does He not know it who 4keeps your soul? And will He not 56render to man according to his work?
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 are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited. 11Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? 13My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; 14Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not 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
- Seeהֵןhên · look!H2005
- we did not knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- considerבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- who weighsתָּכַןtâkan · to measureH8505
- the heartsלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- keepsנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
- your soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- renderשׁוּבshûb · to return: payH7725
- to manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- according to his workפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
Cross-references for Proverbs 24:12
- Proverbs 5:21For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.
- Proverbs 21:2Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- Psalms 7:9O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
- Psalms 17:3You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
- Psalms 44:21Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.
- Jeremiah 17:10I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
- Romans 2:16on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 2:18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
- 1 Samuel 2:6The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
- 1 Samuel 25:29Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling.
- Psalms 66:9Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip.
- Psalms 121:3He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you 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
Notes
- 1. Proverbs 24:12 Eccl 5:8 ↩
- 2. Proverbs 24:12 1 Sam 16:7; Prov 21:2 ↩
- 3. Proverbs 24:12 Ps 94:9-11 ↩
- 4. Proverbs 24:12 Ps 121:3-8 ↩
- 5. Proverbs 24:12 Lit bring back ↩
- 6. Proverbs 24:12 Job 34:11; Prov 12:14 ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries