Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained quickly ¹  will dwindle away, ²  but the one who gathers it little by little ³  will become rich. ⁴ 

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

Wealth from get–rich–quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.

Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.

Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.

Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it.

Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

Wealth gained quickly ¹  will dwindle away, ²  but the one who gathers it little by little ³  will become rich. ⁴ 

¹ tc The MT reads מֵהֵבֶל (mehevel, “from vanity”). The Greek and Latin versions (followed by RSV) reflect מְבֹהָל (mÿvohal, “in haste”) which exhibits metathesis. MT is the more difficult reading and therefore preferred. The alternate reading fits the parallelism better, but is therefore a less difficult reading.

¹ tn Heb “wealth from vanity” (cf. KJV, ASV). The term הֶבֶל (hevel) literally means “vapor” and figuratively refers to that which is unsubstantial, fleeting, or amount to nothing (BDB 210 s.v.). Used in antithesis with the expression “little by little,” it means either “without working for it” or “quickly.” Some English versions assume dishonest gain (cf. NASB, NIV, CEV).

² tn Heb “will become small.” The verb מָעָט (ma’at) means “to become small; to become diminished; to become few.” Money gained without work will diminish quickly, because it was come by too easily. The verb forms a precise contrast with רָבָה (ravah), “to become much; to become many,” but in the Hiphil, “to multiply; to make much many; to cause increase.”

³ tn Heb “by hand”; cf. KJV, ASV, NASB “by labor.”

⁴ tn Heb “will increase.”