The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Parallel translations
- KJV The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
- BSB The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
- NKJV The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
- NASB The plans of the diligent certainly lead to advantage, But everyone who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
- NLT Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
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
Diligent planning leads to profit, but hasty action leads to poverty. It matters as a call to careful, steady industry rather than impulsiveness.
Overview
Thoughtful diligence yields gain, while reckless haste brings loss (Proverbs 10:4; 13:11). The contrast commends patient, prudent labor over impulsive shortcuts. Wisdom plans wisely and works steadily, trusting God to bless faithful effort.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 13:4The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
- Prov 10:4He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
- Eph 4:28Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
- Prov 27:23–27Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:
- 1 Th 4:11–12and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;
- Prov 14:29He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
- Prov 28:22A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
- Prov 20:21An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.
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 21:5 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.