Revised Literal Translation
Proverbs 24:12
12If 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?
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 thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 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? 13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall 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
- If thou sayestאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold, we knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- it not; doth not he that ponderethתָּכַןtâkan · to measureH8505
- the heartלִבָּהlibbâh · heartH3826
- considerבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- and he that keepethנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
- thy soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- he renderשׁוּבshûb · to return: payH7725
- manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- according to his worksפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
Cross-references for Proverbs 24:12
- Proverbs 5:21For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yhwh, and he pondereth all his goings.
- Proverbs 21:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But Yhwh pondereth the hearts.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But Yhwh said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, But Yhwh looketh on the heart.
- Psalms 7:9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
- Psalms 17:3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
- Psalms 44:21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
- Jeremiah 17:10I Yhwh search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
- Romans 2:16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- Revelation 2:18And unto the angel of the Assembly in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
- 1 Samuel 2:6Yhwh killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
- 1 Samuel 25:29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Yhwh thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
- Psalms 66:9Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
- Psalms 121:3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries