A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
- KJV He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
- BSB He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
- NKJV He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
- NASB He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Gathering in summer marks a wise son; sleeping through harvest brings shame. Wisdom acts at the right time; folly wastes opportunity.
Overview
The image of harvest teaches the value of seizing the proper season for work. The wise recognize and act on opportunity, while the foolish squander it through neglect. This calls us to diligence and good stewardship of time, making the most of the opportunities God gives (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Prov 6:8provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
- Prov 30:25the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
- Prov 17:2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
- Isa 55:6–7Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Prov 19:26He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
- Prov 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;
- Prov 12:4A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 10:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.