¹²If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.

¹³Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat.

¹⁴So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

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?

My son, eat honey, for it is good,

and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

if you find it, there will be a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Rescue those being led away to death;

hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

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?

Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:

If you find it, there is a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Rescue those being taken off to death,

and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”

won’t he who weighs hearts consider it?

Won’t he who protects your life know?

Won’t he repay a person according to his work?

Eat honey, my son, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;

realize that wisdom is the same for you.

If you find it, you will have a future,

and your hope will never fade.

NLTNew Living Translation

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;

save them as they stagger to their death.

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

For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.

He who guards your soul knows you knew.

He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

My child, eat honey, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.

In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.

If you find it, you will have a bright future,

and your hopes will not be cut short.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Rescue those who are led away to the death

and those who stagger to the slaughter. If you hold back,

if you say, “Look, we do not know this,”

does not he who weighs hearts perceive it?

And he who keeps your soul,

he knows and will repay humankind according to his deeds.

My child, eat honey, for it is good,

and the dripping of the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

Thus know wisdom for the sake of your soul,

if you find it, then there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

KJV 1900King James Version

If 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?

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good;

And the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

So 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.

Public Domain