PROV 24:12 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

This section follows the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1–22:16). It differs in significant ways from this preceding section:These differences were summarized from a number of commentaries, including UBS (page 472), Waltke (2004, page 22), and Hubbard (page 351).

The preceding section has mostly two-line proverbs that are one verse in length. This section has proverbs of a different form. They are sayings that range from one to seven verses. Most of the sayings are two or three verses in length. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes.
Many of the proverbs in the preceding section express a general principle. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. Most of the sayings here contain direct commands. They advise the reader or listener either to follow wise behavior or avoid foolish behavior. Most of the sayings also give a reason or motive for following the command.
As in chapters 1–9, the author addresses his reader or listener as a father who advises his son. He uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). See the note on 23:15 for a list of verses where the words “my son” occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

Thirty Wise Sayings (CEV)

Words of the Wise (ESV)

Thirty Sayings of the Wise (NIV11)

Verse 22:20 mentions “thirty sayings,” but the Hebrew text itself does not number the sayings. Some versions that use the word “thirty” in the section heading also give a number as a separate heading for each saying. The GNT and CEV start numbering the sayings at 22:22. They have a total of thirty-one paragraphs. In these versions, the first paragraph (22:17–21) serves as an introduction to the thirty sayings (22:22–24:22).Scholars who identify 22:17–21 as the first saying include Hubbard (page 352), Fox (page 707), and Waltke (2004, page 22). Scholars who identify these verses as an introduction to the sayings that follow include Whybray (page 325) and Murphy (page 170). See also the NET footnote (b) on 22:16. Whether these introductory verses form the first saying or simply introduce the following sayings, all scholars agree that they function as an introduction to the whole section. Other versions, such as the NIV, NCV, and NLT, divide the paragraphs in the same way but do not have separate headings for each section. You may use either option in your translation.The NIV11 gives a number as a separate heading for each saying. But it counts the first paragraph as the first saying, and has a total of thirty paragraphs. Other versions have more or fewer paragraphs. For example, the ESV and NRSV have fifteen paragraphs. The NJB has thirty-four. Still other versions, such as the RSV, NET, and NJPS, do not group the verses into sayings or paragraphs.

For the convenience of those who decide to identify the number of each saying in their translation, the Notes will put the number in the paragraph headings, using the same numbering system as the GNT or CEV. These numbers will not be used in the Display.

Paragraph 24:11–12 Saying 25

In 24:11, the teacher advises the young man to rescue people who are in danger of being killed. In 24:12, he warns him not to make excuses for failing to act. The reason is that God knows that such an excuse is not valid.

24:12

Verse 24:12a gives a possible excuse that the young man might make for not doing anything. The next two lines (24:12b–c) warn the young man that God knows his true motives. As a result (24:12d), God will repay him for letting the innocent person die.

^12aIf you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”

^12b does not He who weighs hearts consider it?

^12c Does not the One who guards your life know?

^12dWill He not repay a man according to his deeds?

24:12a

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”

If you^(sing) let him/them die and later make an excuse, saying, “We^(excl) knew nothing about this situation,”
Do not make excuses, saying, “Look here, I did not know what was happening!”

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”: The words If you say introduce the young man’s hypothetical excuse for not rescuing the people whose lives were in danger. In some languages, it may be helpful to specify that the quoted words are an excuse.

It may also be necessary to translate the “if” clause as a statement or as an admonition. For example:

You may make the excuse that you were not aware of the true situation.

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” (NLT)

Behold: In Hebrew, this quote begins with a word that calls attention to the next statement. Here it calls attention to the young man’s excuse for doing nothing. The BSB has translated this word as Behold. Some English versions, as the NLT above, translate it as “Look.” Other versions, as the NIV, use the word “but” because the young man’s excuse contrasts with the advice that he should rescue people. Other versions simply give the excuse. For example:

“We knew nothing of it,” (NJPS)

Translate this quote in a way that is appropriate for an excuse in your language.

we: By using the word we, the young man indicates that other people also knew about this situation and did nothing. The verse does not indicate who these other people were or who the young man was talking to. If your language uses exclusive and inclusive we pronouns, you should use the exclusive pronoun here.

If it is confusing to use we, you may use “I,” since the saying is addressed to the young man. For example:

“I did not know what was happening.”

In some languages, it may be more natural to use an indirect quote. For example:

Don’t try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. (NLT96)

this: This word probably refers to the situation that is described in 24:11. According to the young man’s excuse, he may not have known:

that these people were about to be killed
that they were innocent

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the word this more explicit. For example:

what was happening

that these people were innocent

that these people were going to be killed

24:12b–c

(combined/reordered)

Remember that God always guards your^(sing) life. He sees and knows everything that you do and think.

^12b Does not He who weighs hearts consider it?

^12c Does not the One who guards your life know?

These two lines are rhetorical questions. Both refer to God. They emphasize that God certainly knows the young man’s motives. He knows that the young man was telling a lie to excuse what he did. See the General Comment on 24:12b–c after the notes on 24:12c for a way to translate the rhetorical questions as statements.

24:12b

does not He who weighs hearts consider it?

remember that God evaluates/examines our^(incl) thoughts/motives. Is it possible that he will not notice what you^(sing) were thinking?
For of course God understands everything that is in the minds/hearts of people. He knows that you really understood the situation.

He who weighs hearts: This phrase describes God as someone who evaluates or examines the thoughts, motives, or intentions of any or all people. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the one who evaluates hearts (NET)

God, who knows what’s in your mind (NCV)

God understands all hearts (NLT)

See how you translated the similar phrases in 16:2 and 21:2.

consider it: In Hebrew, this phrase indicates that God notices and understands the young man’s true thoughts and intentions. In this context, it has almost the same meaning as the parallel word “know” in 24:12c.

24:12c

Does not the One who guards your life know?

He constantly watches you^(sing) and guards/protects your life, so of course he knows the truth.
Since he sees and takes care of you, do you think that he was not aware of your thoughts?

the One who guards your life: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “he who guards/watches your soul/life.”The phrase “guards his/your soul/life” occurs four other times in Proverbs (13:3a, 16:17b, 19:16a, and 22:5b). In these other verses the subject is a person and the verb is šamar, whereas in Proverbs 24:12 the subject refers to God and the verb is naṣar. According to NIDOTTE (H5915), naṣar is “equivalent in semantic value” to šamar. There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

It means that God guards a person. He watches over him in order to care for him and protect his life.This is the view of Longman (page 437), Waltke (pages 277–278) and Fox (page 747). According to Fox, since God protects you, he also expects you to defend other people when they need help. BDB (#5341), NIDOTTE (H5915), and TWOT (#1407) all cite Proverbs 24:12 as an example where naṣar has the sense “guard” (from danger) or “preserve.” For example:
he who keeps watch over your soul (ESV)
the Guardian of your soul (NJB) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
It means that God watches a person. He carefully observes everything in his life in order to hold him accountable.This view is preferred by UBS, McKane, Cohen, and Hubbard. According to Hubbard (page 402), God “watches closely” in order to hold a person accountable. HALOT (#6318) cites Proverbs 24:12 under the sense “observe/watch.” For example:
he who watches you (REB) (CEV, NCV, REB, GNT)

It is recommended that you translate in a way that will allow either interpretation. With both interpretations, God watches a person. The main difference is God’s purpose for keeping watch.

Both interpretations are well supported and fit the context. The fact that God carefully observes the young man’s life fits well with the preceding statement that God examines his heart (24:12b).

If you prefer to follow one interpretation, it is recommended that you add a footnote that gives the other interpretation. For example:

In Hebrew, this verse has two meanings. It can mean that God guards or protects a person’s life. It can also mean that God carefully watches a person’s life.

know: This phrase means almost the same thing as “consider it” in 24:12b. In some languages, it may be more natural to combine these two phrases into one phrase. See the last example in the General Comment.

General Comment on 24:12b–c

In Hebrew, these two lines are both negative rhetorical questions. They emphasize the certainty that God knows the young man’s inner thoughts and motives. In some languages, it may be clearer to translate these rhetorical questions in other ways. For example:

Use a statement followed by a rhetorical question. For example:
^12bGod examines everyone’s heart/mind. Do you^(sing) think that he does not notice what you were thinking?
^12cHe watches you and cares for your life. Is it possible that he does not know your motives/intentions? Of course he knows!
Use one or more statements. For example:
^12bFor God sees and understands the hearts/minds of all people. He is certainly aware of your thoughts.
^12cHe carefully observes and guards you. He knows that you knew what was happening.

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these parallel lines. For example:

Do not forget that God always guards your^(sing) life. He sees and knows everything that you do and think.

24:12d

Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

He will certainly repay all people for their deeds.
He will definitely make you^(sing) receive what you deserve for what you have done.

Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?: This line is also a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that God will cause every person to receive what they deserve for what they have done. In this context, if the young man refuses to rescue a person who is about to die, God will make sure that no one rescues the young man when he faces a similar danger. Some other ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Will he not repay you as your deeds deserve?
As a statement. For example:
He will reward each person for what he has done. (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כִּֽי־תֹאמַ֗ר

that/for/because/then/when say

Here, the writer implies that the speaker did know and is lying. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “If you lie by saying”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

תֹאמַ֗ר הֵן֮ לֹא־יָדַ֪עְנ֫וּ

say if not know

If it would be more natural in your language, you could express this as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “you say that, behold, you did not know this”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֵן֮

The speaker is using the term Behold to focus attention on what he is about to say, which is an objection to an unspoken accusation. Your language may have a comparable expression that you could use in your translation. Alternate translation: “Listen” or “We have done nothing wrong”

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

זֶ֥ה

this

Here, this refers to what is happening to “those who are taken for the death,” who are also “those who stagger to the slaughter” mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “that those people were being taken to die” or “that those people were being unjustly killed”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲֽ⁠לֹא־תֹ֘כֵ֤ן לִבּ֨וֹת ׀ הֽוּא־יָבִ֗ין וְ⁠נֹצֵ֣ר נַ֭פְשְׁ⁠ךָ ה֣וּא יֵדָ֑ע וְ⁠הֵשִׁ֖יב לְ⁠אָדָ֣ם כְּ⁠פָעֳלֽ⁠וֹ

?,not weighs hearts he/it perceive and,[one_who]_guards life_of,your he/it know and,will_he_repay? to/for=ʼĀdām/humankind according,to_of,his_work

The writer is using the question form to emphasize the truth of what he is saying. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “he, the examiner of hearts, surely understands, and he, the guard of your life, surely knows, and he will surely give back to a man according to his work!”

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

הֲֽ⁠לֹא־תֹ֘כֵ֤ן לִבּ֨וֹת ׀ הֽוּא־יָבִ֗ין וְ⁠נֹצֵ֣ר נַ֭פְשְׁ⁠ךָ ה֣וּא יֵדָ֑ע וְ⁠הֵשִׁ֖יב

?,not weighs hearts he/it perceive and,[one_who]_guards life_of,your he/it know and,will_he_repay?

In this verse, he refers to Yahweh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “does not Yahweh, the examiner of hearts, understand, and Yahweh, the guard of your life, know; and Yahweh will give back”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תֹ֘כֵ֤ן לִבּ֨וֹת

weighs hearts

Here, the writer speaks of one who discerns what people are thinking as if he were an examiner of hearts. The word hearts here refers to human minds, as in [15:11](../15/11.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the discerner of minds”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠נֹצֵ֣ר נַ֭פְשְׁ⁠ךָ ה֣וּא

and,[one_who]_guards life_of,your he/it

Here, the writer speaks of someone who keeps a person alive as if he were the guard of that person’s life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and he, the one who preserves your life”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠הֵשִׁ֖יב לְ⁠אָדָ֣ם

and,will_he_repay? to/for=ʼĀdām/humankind

Here, the writer refers to Yahweh causing a man to receive what he deserves for his work as if Yahweh were giving something back to that man. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And he will make sure a man receives what is due to him”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

לְ⁠אָדָ֣ם כְּ⁠פָעֳלֽ⁠וֹ

to/for=ʼĀdām/humankind according,to_of,his_work

Although man and he are masculine, the writer is using these words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “a person according to that person’s work”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 24:12

Hebrew word order