Proverbs 12:24

24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

Proverbs 12:24 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
English Standard Version (ESV)
24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
New Living Translation (NLT)
24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.
The Message Bible (MSG)
24 The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.
American Standard Version (ASV)
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be put under taskwork.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
24 Hard-working hands gain control, but lazy hands do slave labor.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
24 The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
24 Hands that work hard will rule. But people who don't want to work will become slaves.

Proverbs 12:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule
"Shall become rich", so Jarchi interprets it, according to ( Proverbs 10:4 ) ; Through diligence men get riches, and through riches they arrive to power and authority over others: from apprentices and journeymen workmen they become masters of their business; diligent men become masters of families, and have servants and workmen under them; become magistrates in cities, and bear rule over their fellow citizens, and are advanced to places of power and authority in the commonwealth; see ( Proverbs 22:29 ) ; but the slothful shall be under tribute;
the "slothful" or "deceitful hand" F12, for so it may be rendered and supplied; for usually such who are slothful, and do not care for business, get their living by deceitful methods, by tricking and sharping; and such become subject to others, to them that are diligent; hence said to be "under tribute", or tributary; because those that are tributary are in subjection to those to whom they pay tribute.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 "Manus fraudulentiae", Michaelis; "dolosa", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Gejerus; "fraudulenta", Tigurine version, Vatablus.

Proverbs 12:24 In-Context

22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Proverbs 10:4
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