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The NET Bible®

Proverbs 10:4

The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Diligence;   Idleness;   Industry;   Slothfulness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Diligence;   Virtues;   The Topic Concordance - Diligence;   Laziness;   Poverty;   Wealth;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Diligence;   Idleness and Sloth;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Proverb, the Book of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Poor;   Time;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Motives;   Work;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Servants;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Idle;   Proverbs, Book of;   Slothful;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boyhood ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Prov'erbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Diligence;   Poetry, Hebrew;   Poor;   Wealth;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Idle hands make one poor,but diligent hands bring riches.
Hebrew Names Version
He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
King James Version
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
English Standard Version
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
New American Standard Bible
Poor is one who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
New Century Version
A lazy person will end up poor, but a hard worker will become rich.
Amplified Bible
Poor is he who works with a negligent and idle hand, But the hand of the diligent makes him rich.
World English Bible
He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
A slouthfull hand maketh poore: but the hand of the diligent maketh riche.
Legacy Standard Bible
Poor is he who works with a slack hand,But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Berean Standard Bible
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Contemporary English Version
Laziness leads to poverty; hard work makes you rich.
Complete Jewish Bible
Idle hands bring poverty; diligent hands bring wealth.
Darby Translation
He cometh to want that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Easy-to-Read Version
Lazy hands will make you poor; hard-working hands will make you rich.
George Lamsa Translation
Poverty humbles a man; but the hands of diligent men make rich.
Good News Translation
Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich.
Lexham English Bible
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent enriches.
Literal Translation
He who works with a lazy hand becomes poor, but the hand of the hard worker makes him rich.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
An ydle hande maketh poore, but a quycke laboringe hande maketh riche.
American Standard Version
He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Bible in Basic English
He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
King James Version (1611)
Hee becommeth poore that dealeth with a slacke hand: but the hand of the diligent, maketh rich.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
An idle hande maketh poore: but a quicke labouring hande maketh riche.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Poverty brings a man low: but the hands of the vigorous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.
English Revised Version
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A slow hond hath wrouyt nedynesse; but the hond of stronge men makith redi richessis. Forsothe he that enforsith to gete `ony thing bi leesyngis, fedith the wyndis; sotheli the same man sueth briddis fleynge.
Update Bible Version
He becomes poor that works with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Webster's Bible Translation
He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
New King James Version
He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
New Living Translation
Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
New Life Bible
He who works with a lazy hand is poor, but the hand of the hard worker brings riches.
New Revised Standard
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He becometh poor, who dealeth with a slack hand, but, the hand of the diligent, maketh rich.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds, that fly away.
Revised Standard Version
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Young's Literal Translation
Poor [is] he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
THE MESSAGE
Sloth makes you poor; diligence brings wealth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Contextual Overview

4 The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

becometh: Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 12:24, Proverbs 19:15, Proverbs 19:24, Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 20:13, Proverbs 24:30-34, Ecclesiastes 10:18, John 6:27, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 6:12, 2 Peter 1:5-10

with a slack hand: That is, slothfully and negligently.

but: Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 21:5, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:32 - We have Joshua 18:3 - How long are Proverbs 6:11 - General Proverbs 18:9 - that is slothful Proverbs 22:29 - a man Proverbs 24:34 - thy poverty

Cross-References

Numbers 24:24
Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever."
Isaiah 23:1
Here is a message about Tyre: Wail, you large ships, for the port is too devastated to enter! From the land of Cyprus this news is announced to them.
Isaiah 23:12
He said, "You will no longer celebrate, oppressed virgin daughter Sidon! Get up, travel to Cyprus, but you will find no relief there."
Ezekiel 27:12
"‘Tarshish was your trade partner because of your abundant wealth; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products.
Ezekiel 27:25
The ships of Tarshish were the transports for your merchandise. "‘So you were filled and weighed down in the heart of the seas.
Daniel 11:30
The ships of Kittim will come against him, leaving him disheartened. He will turn back and direct his indignation against the holy covenant. He will return and honor those who forsake the holy covenant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand,.... That is either remiss in giving to the necessities of others, according to his abilities, and as cases require; or that is negligent and slothful in his business. Or, "that worketh with a deceitful hand"; or, "with a hand of deceit" u, as it may be rendered; who pretends to work, but does not; makes a show as if he did, but acts deceitfully; or who uses many tricking and deceitful ways and methods to live, as usually slothful persons do. Aben Ezra observes, it may be rendered and interpreted, "he becomes poor that makes a deceitful balance"; thinking to enrich himself by such fraudulent practices: or, as others, "a deceitful balance maketh poor" w; such seldom or ever thrive, or it does not long prosper with them who use such unlawful methods;

but the hand of the diligent maketh rich; that is, with the blessing of God along with it, as in Proverbs 10:22; such who are "sharp" x and acute, as the word signifies; who are careful and industrious, mind their business, and do the honest part; these, with a divine blessing, frequently grow rich: or rather who are like those that dig in the earth for gold, who search for it with great eagerness and diligence; for from this root is a word often used for gold, Proverbs 3:14. All this is true in a spiritual sense; such who are slothful in attendance on the means of grace, the word and ordinances, are slack and negligent in duty, bring a spiritual poverty upon them; and like the Laodicean church, who, through her lukewarmness and carnal security, became poor and wretched, blind and naked: on the other hand, such who are diligent in the use of means are frequent at the throne of grace, forsake not the assembly of the saints, constantly wait at Wisdom's gates; these grow rich in grace and in all good works.

u כף רמיה "vola doli", Montanus; "fraudulenta manu", Tigurine version, Cocceius, Schultens; so Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis. w So Mercerus. x חרוצים "acuti", Bochart. Hierizoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 55. col. 668.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Slack - The word is elsewhere translated as “deceitful” Job 13:7; Psalms 120:2-3; Hosea 7:16; Jeremiah 48:10. The two thoughts run easily into each other.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 10:4. He becometh poor — God has ordered, in the course of his providence, that he who will not work shall not eat. And he always blesses the work of the industrious man.


 
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