Mazmur 94:11

94:11 The Lord knows that

peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt. ¹ 

Amsal 24:12

24:12 If you say, “But we did not know about this,”

does not the one who evaluates ²  hearts consider?

Does not the one who guards your life know?

Will he not repay each person according to his deeds? ³ 

Yeremia 12:3

12:3 But you, Lord, know all about me.

You watch me and test my devotion to you. ⁴ 

Drag these wicked men away like sheep to be slaughtered!

Appoint a time when they will be killed! ⁵ 

[94:11]  ¹ tn Heb “the Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are emptiness.” The psalmist thinks specifically of the “thoughts” expressed in v. 7.

[24:12]  ² tn Heb “weighs” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV) meaning “tests” or “evaluates.”

[24:12]  ³ sn 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.

[12:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “You, Lord, know me. You watch me and you test my heart toward you.”

[12:3]  sn Jeremiah appears to be complaining like Job that God cares nothing about the prosperity of the wicked, but watches his every move. The reverse ought to be true. Jeremiah shouldn’t be suffering the onslaughts of his fellow countrymen as he is. The wicked who are prospering should be experiencing punishment.

[12:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “set aside for them a day of killing.”