God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 20:21
21An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning will never be blessed in the end.
Proverbs 20:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
- New International Version (NIV)An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end.
- English Standard Version (ESV)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
- New King James Version (NKJV)An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.
Context of Proverbs 20:21
19Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets. Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open. 20The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother will be snuffed out in total darkness. An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning will never be blessed in the end. 22Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!” Wait for the Lord, and he will save you. 23A double standard of weights is disgusting to the Lord, and dishonest scales are no good.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:21 word by word
נַ֭חֲלָה מְבֹהֶ֣לֶת בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ לֹ֣א תְבֹרָֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:21
- Proverbs 23:4Do not wear yourself out getting rich. Be smart enough to stop.
- Proverbs 28:20A trustworthy person has many blessings, but anyone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment.
- 1 Timothy 6:9But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires which drown them in destruction and ruin.
- Proverbs 13:22Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.
- Proverbs 28:8Whoever becomes wealthy through ⌞unfair⌟ loans and interest collects them for the one who is kind to the poor.
- Job 27:16Though he collects silver like dust and piles up clothing like dirt,
- Habakkuk 2:6Won’t all of them ridicule him, directing clever sayings and riddles at him, like: “ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich with what is not his own and makes himself wealthy on loans. How long will this go on?’
- Zechariah 5:4I will send out a curse, declares the Lord of Armies, and it will enter the houses of thieves and the houses of those who take oaths in my name. It will stay in their houses and destroy the timber and stone.”
- Malachi 2:2If you won’t listen and if you won’t consider giving honor to my name,” says the Lord of Armies, “then I’ll send a curse on you, and I’ll curse the blessings you give. Yes, I’ve already cursed them because you don’t carefully consider this.
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21An inheritance - gotten hastily - Gotten by speculation; by lucky hits; not in the fair progressive way of traffic, in which money has its natural increase. All such inheritances are short-lived; God's blessing is not in them, because they are not the produce of industry; and they lead to idleness, pride, fraud and knavery. A speculation in trade is a pubiic nuisance and curse. How many honest men have been ruined by such!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Or, An inheritance gotten hastily (greedily sought after by unjust means) at the beginning, the end thereof shall not be blessed. Another reading gives, “an inheritance loathed, (compare Zechariah 11:8), or with a curse upon it.” The King James Version agrees with the versions.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 An estate suddenly raised, is often as suddenly ruined.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21If you receive an inheritance early in life, you might spend it all before you die, leaving nothing for later.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. gotten hastily--contrary to God's providence (Pr 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pr 20:17).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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