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.
12a If 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 ?
12d Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
24:12a
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.
-or-
Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” (New Living Translation (2004))
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 Berean Standard Bible has translated this word as Behold. Some English versions, as the New Living Translation (2004) above, translate it as “Look.” Other versions, as the New International Version, 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,” (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
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. (New Living Translation (1996))
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:
(a) that these people were about to be killed
(b) that they were innocent
In some languages, it may be necessary to make the word this more explicit. For example:
what was happening
-or-
that these people were innocent
-or-
that these people were going to be killed
24:12b–c
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
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 Bible)
-or-
God, who knows what’s in your mind (New Century Version)
-or-
God understands all hearts (New Living Translation (2004))
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
the One who guards your life: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “he who guards/watches your soul/life.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:
(1) It means that God guards a person. He watches over him in order to care for him and protect his life. For example:
he who keeps watch over your soul (English Standard Version)
-or-
the Guardian of your soul (New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) It means that God watches a person. He carefully observes everything in his life in order to hold him accountable. For example:
he who watches you (Revised English Bible)
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:
12b God examines everyone’s heart/mind. Do you(sing) think that he does not notice ⌊what you were thinking⌋ ?
12c He 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:
12b For God sees and understands the hearts/minds of all people. He is certainly aware of ⌊your thoughts⌋ .
12c He 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?: 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. (New Century Version)
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