Proverbs 12:24

The diligent ¹  person ²  will rule, but the slothful ³  will become a slave. ⁴ 

biblegateway Pro 12:24

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour.

biblegateway Pro 12:24

The hand of the diligent will rule, But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

biblegateway Pro 12:24

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

biblegateway Pro 12:24

The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.

SABDAweb Pro 12:24

The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.

bibleoremus Pro 12:24

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

biblegateway Pro 12:24

The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

biblegateway Pro 12:24

The diligent ¹  person ²  will rule, but the slothful ³  will become a slave. ⁴ 

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.