A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
Parallel translations
- WEB The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
- KJV The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
- NKJV The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.
- NASB A lazy person does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a person is diligence.
- NLT Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.
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
The lazy man fails even to roast the game he caught, but the diligent treasure their possessions. Sloth wastes what it has, while diligence values and uses it well.
Overview
This proverb pictures the sluggard who will not even finish preparing what he has hunted, in contrast to the diligent who prize and steward their possessions. It exposes how laziness squanders opportunity. The lesson commends the faithful diligence God honors in those who steward His gifts well.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Prov 26:15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
- Ps 37:16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
- Prov 15:16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- Prov 23:2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
- Prov 16:8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
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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 12:27 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
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