Proverbs 28:19

The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, ¹  but whoever chases daydreams ²  will have his fill ³  of poverty.

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

Hard workers have plenty of food; playing around brings poverty.

Work your garden--you'll end up with plenty of food; play and party--you'll end up with an empty plate.

By ploughing his land a man will have bread in full measure; but he who goes after good-for-nothing persons will be poor enough.

Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread, but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, ¹  but whoever chases daydreams ²  will have his fill ³  of poverty.

¹ tn Or “will have plenty of food” (Heb “bread”); so NAB, NASB, NCV.

² tn Heb “empty things” or “vain things”; NRSV “follows worthless pursuits.”

² sn Prosperity depends on diligent work and not on chasing empty dreams. The proverb is essentially the same as Prov 12:11 except for the last expression.

³ 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.