7:2a–b

This verse continues the description of the deceitful people. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

2a But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil.

2b Now their deeds are all around them; they are always before My face.

The first clauses in 7:2a and 7:2b indicate that the people are unaware of the true results of their sins. The second clauses indicate that the LORD knows about all their sins and remembers them.

7:2a

But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil: In Hebrew, 7:2a begins with a conjunction that connects the people’s wickedness in 7:1d–f and their failure to realize the true situation in 7:2a–b. The preceding context describes people who live deceitfully as if the LORD did not care. But the true situation in 7:2a–b is that God does indeed care.

Here are some ways to indicate this relationship:

• Use an explicit conjunction, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

and the bandits raid outside. But they do not consider that I remember all their wickedness… (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
marauders raid in the open; and they never pause to consider that I remember all their wicked deeds… (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Do not use an explicit conjunction. Allow the context to imply the relationship. For example:

and gangs rob people out in the streets. They do not realize that I remember all of their wicked deeds… (NET Bible)
-or-
and robbers are in the streets. It never enters their minds that I remember all their evil deeds… (New Century Version)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate this relationship.

they fail to consider: This phrase means “they are unaware” or “they do not think about.”

that I remember: In this context, these words mean “I notice” or “I think about,” or “I don’t forget.” They indicate that the LORD knows about their evil deeds. They are not hidden from him.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

I have seen (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I am watching (New Living Translation (2004))

all their evil: This phrase refers to actions that are against God’s will, such as dishonest or immoral behavior.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all the evil things they’ve done (God’s Word)
-or-
all their wickedness (New Revised Standard Version)

7:2b

Now their deeds are all around them: This is a figure of speech (personification). It describes the people’s evil deeds as enemy soldiers who have surrounded and captured them. This figure of speech may imply two things:

(a) They have many sins.

(b) The people cannot free themselves from their sin and its consequences.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the personification. For example:

their misdeeds encircle them (Revised English Bible)

• Make explicit the implied comparison to enemy soldiers. For example:

Their wicked deeds ⌊are like enemies who ⌋ have surrounded them.

Now: This conjunction may indicate a time reference or introduce a contrast. For example:

Their evil deeds have now surrounded them (NET Bible)
-or-
It never enters their heads that I will remember all this evil; but their sins surround them (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be more natural to allow the context to imply the relationship between this clause and the previous one and not have a conjunction here. For example:

Its people don’t realize I am watching them. Their sinful deeds are all around them (New Living Translation (2004))

Any of these options are acceptable. Use a natural way in your language to indicate one of these relationships.

they are before My face: This clause is parallel to the clause “I remember all their evil” in 7:2a. The meaning is related. God always sees every evil deed the people do, and he does not forget them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they are right in front of me (New Century Version)
-or-
I see them all (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
their own deeds…stare me in the face (New Jerusalem Bible)

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