The two lines of this verse are parallel and make a contrast between two approaches to work. The saying recommends thoughtful and constant enterprise against the “get rich quick” attitude.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance”: “The diligent” person, as in 10.4, is someone who is industrious or in common language “hardworking” (New Jerusalem Bible). The “plans” of such a person must refer to thinking ahead or having long-term goals for his or her enterprise. Contemporary English Version renders the whole expression “If you plan and work hard. . ..” “Lead surely to abundance” is literally “surely to abundance” without any verb. The Hebrew term rendered “surely” in this line and “only” in the next line is a device that emphasizes what follows, that is, it points to the inevitable consequence or outcome of the action in the first part of the line. “Abundance” may be translated as “have plenty” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “profit” (Revised English Bible).

“But everyone who is hasty comes only to want”: “Everyone who is hasty” is literally “all hastening ones.” These first terms of the line are not a complete parallel to the matching terms in the first line. The whole expression “all hastening ones,” however, is clearly in contrast with the person who plans and works hard. Some versions translate this simply as “people who do things in too much of a hurry”; for instance, “rash haste” (Revised English Bible), “too much haste” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “if you act too quickly” (Good News Translation). However, the Hebrew term “hastening” may suggest pushing or pressing to get something or to reach some goal; as Toy says, “Hastes can here be understood to mean only ‘hastes to be rich,’ as in 13.11; 28.20. . ..” This fits the context well here, in the contrast between someone who gains by planning and hard work, and the person whose desire is to “get rich quick.” “Comes only to want” is literally “surely to poverty,” which is parallel in form to “surely to abundance” in the first line. The sense is expressed by Good News Translation “never have enough” and Contemporary English Version “end up poor.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .