15 Heb “show yourself slack” ( similar). The verb רָפָה (rafah) means “to sink; to relax.” In the causative stems it means “to let slacken; to let go; to refrain; to fail; to do nothing.” In the Hitpael stem 952 defines it as “to show yourself slack.” It has also been rendered as “give up” (, ); “fail” (); “falter” (). The colon implies a condition, for which the second part of the verse is the apodosis.
16 The verse employs a paronomasia to underscore the point: “trouble” is צָרָה (tsarah), literally “a bind; a strait [or, narrow] place”; “small” is צַר (tsar), with the same idea of “narrow” or “close.”
17 The test of strength is adversity, for it reveals how strong a person is. Of course a weak person can always plead adverse conditions in order to quit. This is the twenty-fourth saying.
18 The idea of “slipping” (participle from מוֹט, mot) has troubled some commentators. G. R. Driver emends it to read “at the point of” (“Problems in Proverbs,” 50 [1932]: 146). But the as it stands makes good sense. The reference would be general, , to help any who are in mortal danger or who might be tottering on the edge of such disaster—whether through sin, or through disease, war, or danger. Several English versions (e.g., , , ) render this term as “staggering.” God holds people responsible for rescuing those who are in mortal danger. The use of “death” and “slaughter” seems rather strong in the passage, but they have been used before in the book for the destruction that comes through evil.
19 Heb “weighs” (so , , ) meaning “tests” or “evaluates.”
20 The verse completes the saying by affirming that people will be judged responsible for helping those in mortal danger. The verse uses a series of rhetorical questions to affirm that God knows our hearts and we cannot plead ignorance.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

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?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

If you falter in a time of trouble,

how small is your strength!

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?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

If you do nothing in a difficult time,

your strength is limited.

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?

NLTNew Living Translation

If you fail under pressure,

your strength is too small.

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

If you faint on the day of adversity,

little is your strength.

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.

KJV 1900King James Version

If thou faint in the day of adversity,

Thy strength is small.

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?

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