Proverbs 20:21

NETBible

An inheritance gained easily 1  in the beginning will not be blessed 2  in the end. 3 

NIV ©

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

NASB ©

An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end.

NLT ©

An inheritance obtained early in life is not a blessing in the end.

MSG ©

A bonanza at the beginning is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

BBE ©

A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

NRSV ©

An estate quickly acquired in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

NKJV ©

An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.

KJV
An inheritance
<05159>
[may be] gotten hastily
<0926> (8794) (8675) <0973> (8794)
at the beginning
<07223>_;
but the end
<0319>
thereof shall not be blessed
<01288> (8792)_.
NASB ©
An inheritance
<5159>
gained
<973>
hurriedly
<926>
at the beginning
<7223>
Will not be blessed
<1288>
in the end
<319>
.
LXXM
(20:9b) meriv
<3310> 
N-NSF
epispoudazomenh {V-PMPNS} en
<1722> 
PREP
prwtoiv
<4413> 
A-DPM
en
<1722> 
PREP
toiv
<3588> 
T-DPM
teleutaioiv {A-DPM} ouk
<3364> 
ADV
euloghyhsetai
<2127> 
V-FPI-3S
NET [draft] ITL
An inheritance
<05159>
gained easily
<0973>
in the beginning
<07223>
will not
<03808>
be blessed
<01288>
in the end
<0319>
.
HEBREW
Krbt
<01288>
al
<03808>
htyrxaw
<0319>
hnsarb
<07223>
*tlhbm {tlxbm}
<0973>
hlxn (20:21)
<05159>
NETBible

An inheritance gained easily 1  in the beginning will not be blessed 2  in the end. 3 

NET Notes

1 tc The Kethib reads מְבֻחֶלֶת (mÿbukhelet), “gotten by greed” (based on a cognate Syriac verb, “to be greedy”); but the Qere is מְבֹהֶלֶת (mÿvohelet), “gotten hastily [or, quickly].” A large number of mss and the ancient versions read with the Qere (cf. KJV, ASV “gotten hastily”; NAB “gained hastily”; NIV “quickly gained”; NRSV “quickly acquired”).

1 sn If the inheritance is obtained quickly, it could mean prematurely (e.g., Luke 15:12) or cruelly (Prov 19:26). The inheritance is gained without labor or without preparation.

2 tn The form is the Pual imperfect, “will not be blessed,” suggesting that divine justice is at work.

2 sn The Hebrew verb means “enriched, made fruitful, prospered.” Whatever the inheritance was, it will not reach its full potential or even remain permanent.

3 tn Heb “in its end”; KJV, ASV “the end thereof.”