New English Translation
Proverbs 20:4
4The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.
Proverbs 20:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
- New International Version (NIV)Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
Context of Proverbs 20:4
2The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself. 3It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels. The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing. 5Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out. 6Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person – who can find?
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:4 word by word
מֵ֭חֹרֶף עָצֵ֣ל לֹא־יַחֲרֹ֑שׁ וְשָׁאַ֖ל בַּקָּצִ֣יר וָאָֽיִן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:4
- Proverbs 10:4The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.
- Proverbs 19:15Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry.
- Proverbs 26:13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!”
- Proverbs 6:10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,
- Proverbs 24:34and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.”
- Matthew 25:3When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.
- 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge;
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The sluggard will not plough - For other parts of this character, see the preceding chapter, Proverbs 19 (note). It is seldom that there is a season of very cold weather in Palestine; very cold days sometimes occur, with wind, rain, and sleet. They begin their ploughing in the latter end of September, and sow their early wheat by the middle of October. And this is often the case in England itself. The meaning of the proverb is: the slothful man, under the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Plowing time in Palestine is in November and December, when the wind blows commonly from the North.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. shall ... beg--literally, "ask" (in this sense, Psa 109:10).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:4
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
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Commentaries