Proverbs 10 · Verse 4

Proverbs 10:4

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs 10:4, King James Version

Proverbs 10:4 in other translations

BSBIdle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
WEBHe becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
ASVHe becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
YLTPoor is he who is working--a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
DARBYHe cometh to want that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
BBEHe who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth.
WebsterHe becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

What does Proverbs 10:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Ho 7:16). maketh rich--(compare Pr 10:22).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 He becometh poor - God has ordered, in the course of his providence, that he who will not work shall not eat. And he always blesses the work of the industrious man.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 10:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

רָ֗אשׁRash[is] poorH7326
עֹשֶׂ֥ה'o.Seh[one who] worksH6213
כַף\־khaf-a palm ofH3709
רְמִיָּ֑הre.mi.YahlaxnessH7423
וְיַ֖דve.Yadand [the] hand ofH3027
חָרוּצִ֣יםcha.ru.Tzimdiligent [people]H2742
תַּעֲשִֽׁיר\׃ta.'a.Shirit gains richesH6238

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 10:4

  • Proverbs 19:15

    Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

  • Proverbs 20:4

    The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

  • Proverbs 21:5

    The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

  • Proverbs 13:4

    The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

  • Proverbs 6:6-11

    Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? …

  • Proverbs 12:24

    The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

  • Proverbs 19:24

    A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • Proverbs 20:13

    Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

  • Proverbs 11:24

    There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

  • Proverbs 24:30-34

    I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: …

  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
becometh.
6:6-11; 11:24; 12:24; 19:15,24; 20:4,13; 24:30-34; Ec 10:18
Joh 6:27; Heb 6:11,12; 2Pe 1:5-10
with a slack hand.That is, slothfully and negligently.
but.
13:4; 21:5; 1Co 15:58

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 10:3

    The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

  • Proverbs 10:4

    He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

  • Proverbs 10:5

    He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Read all of Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La mano negligente hace pobre: mas la mano de los diligentes enriquece.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui qui agit d’une main lâche devient pauvre, mais la main des diligents enrichit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer mit lässiger Hand schafft, wird arm; aber die Hand der Fleißigen macht reich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Egestatem operata est manus remissa; manus autem fortium divitias parat. Qui nititur mendaciis, hic pascit ventos; idem autem ipse sequitur aves volantes.