# I tell you

Jesus said this to emphasize what he would say next.

# if these were silent

Jesus is describing something that could have happened but did not. Some translators may need to make it clear what Jesus was implying when he said this. Alternate translation: "I will not rebuke them, for if these people were to be silent" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hypo]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])

# the stones would cry out

"the stones would call out praises"