The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Parallel translations
- WEB The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
- 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 desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
- Prov 10:4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
- Eph 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
- Prov 27:23–27Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
- 1 Th 4:11–12And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
- Prov 14:29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Prov 28:22He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
- Prov 20:21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
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.