22:12

This proverb contrasts the different ways that the LORD deals with truth and falsehood. He preserves what is true, but he disproves information that is false.

The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but he frustrates the words of the faithless.

22:12a

The LORD’s eyes: This phrase is a figure of speech (synecdoche) that represents the LORD himself. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• In languages that have a similar figure of speech, it may be possible to keep the figurative language. For example:

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge (New American Standard Bible)

• In other languages, it will be clearer to refer to The LORD directly, because “knowledge” is not something that the LORD literally watches or sees. For example:

The Lord guards knowledge (New Century Version)

keep watch over knowledge: In this phrase, the word knowledge is a figure of speech (metonymy). There are two main ways to interpret what it represents:

(1) Knowledge represents the content of knowledge. It refers to what is true or what a person knows. For example:

The Lord sees to it that truth is kept safe (Good News Translation)

(2) Knowledge represents a person who has knowledge. It refers to a wise or knowledgeable person. For example:

The Lord preserves those with knowledge (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In Proverbs, knowledge almost always refers to something that a person knows, learns, or makes known to others. This interpretation is also probably implied by the contrast with the parallel phrase “the words of the faithless” in 22:12b.

keep watch: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keep watch is used figuratively here. It means that the LORD protects or preserves true words or teaching. He confirms or shows that it is true, so that it is not rejected, forgotten, or changed.

Some other ways to translate 22:12a are:

The LORD guards/preserves the truth
-or-
The LORD ensures that true words are confirmed/preserved

22:12b

but He frustrates: In this context, the word frustrates indicates that the LORD prevents the words of unfaithful people from accomplishing their wicked purpose. He shows that their words are false. As a result, people do not believe them, and their plans fail.

the words: In Hebrew, this word can refer to schemes or plans as well as words.

of the faithless: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as faithless describes someone who acts treacherously or breaks an agreement. The words or plans of such a person are false and deceive others.

For more information on the word faithless, see the note on 2:22a–b. The word last occurred in 21:18b.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

but he overturns the words of a treacherous person (God’s Word)
-or-
but he frustrates the plans of deceitful liars (Contemporary English Version)

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