Proverbs 24:11
New International Version
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

New Living Translation
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.

English Standard Version
Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

Berean Standard Bible
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

King James Bible
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

New King James Version
Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.

New American Standard Bible
Rescue those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back!

NASB 1995
Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.

NASB 1977
Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.

Legacy Standard Bible
Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are stumbling to the slaughter, Oh hold them back.

Amplified Bible
Rescue those who are being taken away to death, And those who stagger to the slaughter, Oh hold them back [from their doom]!

Christian Standard Bible
Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

American Standard Version
Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.

Contemporary English Version
Don't fail to rescue those who are doomed to die.

English Revised Version
Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Rescue captives condemned to death, and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.

Good News Translation
Don't hesitate to rescue someone who is about to be executed unjustly.

International Standard Version
Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter.

Majority Standard Bible
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

NET Bible
Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.

New Heart English Bible
Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.

Webster's Bible Translation
If thou forbearest to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;

World English Bible
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If [from] delivering those taken to death, "" And you take back those slipping to the slaughter.

Young's Literal Translation
If from delivering those taken to death, And those slipping to the slaughter -- thou keepest back.

Smith's Literal Translation
If thou shalt refrain to deliver those being brought to death, and those going to be slain;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.

New American Bible
Did you fail to rescue those who were being dragged off to death, those tottering, those near death,

New Revised Standard Version
if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death, those who go staggering to the slaughter;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Deliver those who are led away to death, and spare not to redeem those who are held to be slain.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Deliver those that are being led to death and do not spare to save those that are being held to kill.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Deliver them that are drawn unto death; And those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not thy help.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do not Envy
10If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength! 11Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. 12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?…

Cross References
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, / consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Ezekiel 3:18-19
If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. / But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Luke 10:30-37
Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. / So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...

Galatians 6:1-2
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. / Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

1 John 3:16-18
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. / If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Jude 1:22-23
And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; / save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

Hebrews 13:3
Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.

Job 29:12-17
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper. / The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. / I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.


Treasury of Scripture

If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;

1 Samuel 26:8,9
Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time…

Job 29:17
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Psalm 82:4
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Jump to Previous
Carried Death Deliver Delivering Destruction Drawn Forbear Forbearest Forth Help Hold Indeed Led Ready Rescue Saviour Slain Slaughter Slipping Stagger Staggering Wilt Withdraw
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Carried Death Deliver Delivering Destruction Drawn Forbear Forbearest Forth Help Hold Indeed Led Ready Rescue Saviour Slain Slaughter Slipping Stagger Staggering Wilt Withdraw
Proverbs 24
1. Precepts and Warnings














Rescue those being led away to death
The Hebrew word for "rescue" is "הַצֵּל" (hatzel), which implies an active intervention to save or deliver someone from danger. This word calls for a proactive stance, urging believers to not remain passive in the face of injustice or peril. Historically, this reflects the biblical mandate to protect the innocent and vulnerable, a theme prevalent throughout Scripture. The phrase "being led away to death" suggests a sense of helplessness and inevitability, as if the individuals are caught in a procession toward their demise. This can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual death or moral decay, where individuals are ensnared by sin or societal injustices. The call to "rescue" is a call to action, urging believers to intervene and offer salvation, both physically and spiritually, to those who cannot save themselves.

and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter
The word "restrain" in Hebrew is "חֲשֹׂךְ" (chasok), which means to hold back or prevent. This implies a responsibility to actively prevent harm or destruction. The imagery of "stumbling toward the slaughter" evokes a sense of urgency and impending doom. The word "stumbling" suggests a lack of awareness or control, indicating that those on this path may not fully comprehend the danger they are in. The term "slaughter" is stark and vivid, emphasizing the severity of the situation. In a historical context, this could refer to literal physical danger, such as war or persecution, but it also holds a spiritual dimension, warning against the ultimate destruction that comes from a life of sin. The verse calls believers to be vigilant and compassionate, to intervene and guide those who are unaware or unable to see the peril ahead. This reflects the broader biblical theme of being a watchman or shepherd, tasked with the care and protection of others.

(11) If thou forbear . . .--Rather, Deliver those that are taken to death, and those that are tottering to the slaughter, stop them!

Verses 11, 12. - A hexastich, inculcating humanity on the ground of God's omniscience. Verse 11. - If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death. The sentence is not conditional, אם in the second line being equivalent to לוּ, utinam, "oh that!" "would that!" So the first hemistich should be rendered, "Deliver them that are haled to death," and the second, "And those that are tottering to slaughter, oh, hold them back!" The sentence is somewhat obscure, but Cheyne well explains it thus: "Some victims of a miscarriage of justice are about to be dragged away to execution, and the disciple of wisdom is exhorted to use his endeavours to deliver them" ('Job and Solomon'). In the case supposed a moral obligation lies on the pious and well-informed to save a human life unjustly imperilled. At the same time, there is nothing in the passage which absolutely, shows that the punishment of the guiltless is here deprecated; it looks rather as if Wisdom had no pleasure in the death of men, innocent or not, and that the victims of an extreme sentence claimed pity at her hands, whatever might be the circumstances of the verdict. Septuagint, "Deliver those that are being led away to death, and redeem (ἐκπρίου) those that are appointed to be slain; spare not (to help them)" (comp. Psalm 82:3, 4).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Rescue
הַ֭צֵּל (haṣ·ṣêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

those being led away
לְקֻחִ֣ים (lə·qu·ḥîm)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

to death,
לַמָּ֑וֶת (lam·mā·weṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

and restrain
תַּחְשֽׂוֹךְ׃ (taḥ·śō·wḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2820: To restrain, refrain, to refuse, spare, preserve, to observe

those stumbling
וּמָטִ֥ים (ū·mā·ṭîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 4131: To waver, to slip, shake, fall

toward the slaughter.
לַ֝הֶ֗רֶג (la·he·reḡ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2027: A slaughter


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 24:11 Rescue those who are being led away (Prov. Pro Pr)
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