Proverbs 20 · Verse 4

Proverbs 20:4

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Proverbs 20:4, King James Version

Proverbs 20:4 in other translations

BSBThe slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
WEBThe sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
ASVThe sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
YLTBecause of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
DARBYThe sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
BBEThe hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
WebsterThe sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

What does Proverbs 20:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. shall ... beg--literally, "ask" (in this sense, Psa 109:10).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 The sluggard will not plough - For other parts of this character, see the preceding chapter, Proverbs 19 (note). It is seldom that there is a season of very cold weather in Palestine; very cold days sometimes occur, with wind, rain, and sleet. They begin their ploughing in the latter end of September, and sow their early wheat by the middle of October. And this is often the case in England itself. The meaning of the proverb is: the slothful man, under the pretense of unfavorable weather, neglects cultivating his land till the proper time is elapsed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 20:4 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.

מֵ֭חֹרֶףMe.cho.reffrom winterH2779
עָצֵ֣ל'a.Tzela sluggardH6102
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יַחֲרֹ֑שׁya.cha.Roshhe plowsH2790
וְשָׁאַ֖לve.yish.'aland he asksH7592
בַּקָּצִ֣ירba.ka.Tzirat the harvestH7105
וָאָֽיִן\׃va.'A.yinand nothingH369

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

Cross references for Proverbs 20:4

  • Proverbs 10:4

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

  • Proverbs 19:15

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

  • Proverbs 13:4

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

  • Matthew 25:24-28

    Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. …

  • Matthew 25:3-10

    They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. …

  • 2 Peter 1:5-11

    And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. …

  • Proverbs 26:13-16

    The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

  • Proverbs 24:34

    So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

  • Proverbs 6:10-11

    Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

  • Proverbs 19:24

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
sluggard.
10:4; 19:15,24; 26:13-16
cold. or, winter. therefore.
6:10,11; 19:15; 24:34; Mt 25:3-10,24-28; 2Pe 1:5-11

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

Context

  • Proverbs 20:3

    It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

  • Proverbs 20:4

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

  • Proverbs 20:5

    Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Read all of Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El perezoso no ara á causa del invierno; pedirá pues en la siega, y no hallará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		À cause de l’hiver, le paresseux ne laboure pas; lors de la moisson, il mendiera et n’aura rien.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wegen des Winters mag der Faule nicht pflügen; zur Erntezeit wird er begehren, und nichts ist da.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.