12 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?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 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.

12 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? 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; And the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 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.

12 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.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.

14 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.

12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”

Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?

He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?

And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

13 My son, eat honey because it is good,

And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;

14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;

If you have found it, there is a prospect,

And your hope will not be cut off.

12 If you say, “We don’t know anything about this,”

God, who knows what’s in your mind, will notice.

He is watching you, and he will know.

He will reward each person for what he has done.

13 My child, eat honey because it is good.

Honey from the honeycomb tastes sweet.

14 In the same way, wisdom is pleasing to you.

If you find it, you have hope for the future,

and your wishes will come true.

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this;

Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it?

And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?

And shall not he render to every man according to his work?

13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good;

And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:

14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul;

If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward,

And thy hope shall not be cut off.

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste: 14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

12 When you say, “We didn’t know this,” 

won’t the one who weighs hearts take note of it? 

Won’t the one who guards your soul know it? 

Won’t he pay back people for what they do? 

13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good. 

Honey that flows from the honeycomb tastes sweet. 

14 The knowledge of wisdom is like that for your soul. 

If you find it, then there is a future, 

and your hope will never be cut off. 

12 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?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;

14 realize that wisdom is the same for you.

If you find it, you will have a future,

and your hope will never fade.

12 if you say, “Look, 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 all according to their deeds?

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,

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

14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

if you find it, you will find a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

12 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.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,

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

14 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.

12 Don’t say, “But we didn’t know anything about this.”

The One who knows what you are thinking sees it.

The One who guards your life knows it.

He will pay each person back for what he has done.

13 Eat honey, my child. It is good.

Honey from a honeycomb has a sweet taste.

14 I want you to know that wisdom is sweet to you.

If you find it, there is hope for you tomorrow.

So your hope will not be cut off.

12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,”

Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?

And does He not know it who keeps your soul?

And will He not render to man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,

Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;

14 Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;

If you find it, then there will be a future,

And your hope will not be cut off.