Proverbs 12:24

12:24 The diligent ¹  person ²  will rule,

but the slothful ³  will become a slave. ⁴ 

Proverbs 28:19

28:19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, ⁵ 

but whoever chases daydreams ⁶  will have his fill ⁷  of poverty.

John 6:27

6:27 Do not work for the food that disappears, ⁸  but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food ⁹  which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.” ¹⁰ 

Hebrews 6:10-11

6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. 6:11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,

¹ tn The term חָרַץ (kharats, “diligent”) means (1) literally: “to cut; to sharpen,” (2) figurative: “to decide” and “to be diligent. It is used figuratively in Proverbs for diligence. The semantic development of the figure may be understood thus: “cut, sharpen” leads to “act decisively” which leads to “be diligent.” By their diligent work they succeed to management. The diligent rise to the top, while the lazy sink to the bottom.

² tn Heb “the hand of the diligent.” The term “hand” is a synecdoche of part (= hand) for the whole (= person): diligent person. The hand is emphasized because it is the instrument of physical labor; it signifies the actions and the industry of a diligent person – what his hand does.

³ tn Heb “deceitful.” The term refers to one who is not diligent; this person tries to deceive his master about his work, which he has neglected.

⁴ tn Heb “will be for slave labor.” The term מַס (mas, “slave labor”) refers to a person forced into labor from slavery.

⁵ tn Or “will have plenty of food” (Heb “bread”); so NAB, NASB, NCV.

⁶ tn Heb “empty things” or “vain things”; NRSV “follows worthless pursuits.”

⁷ tn The repetition of the verb strengthens the contrast. Both halves of the verse use the verb יִשְׂבַּע (yisba’, “will be satisfied; will be filled with; will have enough”). It is positive in the first colon, but negative in the second – with an ironic twist to say one is “satisfied” with poverty.

⁸ tn Or “perishes” (this might refer to spoiling, but is more focused on the temporary nature of this kind of food).

⁹ tn The referent (the food) has been specified for clarity by repeating the word “food” from the previous clause.

¹⁰ tn Grk “on this one.”