Proverbs 28:19

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

but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.


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

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

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.