21:5

This proverb contrasts two different strategies to make a living or develop a business. These different strategies lead to different results. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

5a
The plans of the diligent bring plenty,

5b as surely as haste leads to poverty.

When a person plans carefully and works hard, the result is financial gain. When a person acts hastily, the result is poverty.

21:5a–b

bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty: In Hebrew, there are no verbs in these two lines. The two lines are more literally “surely/only to profit and/but…surely/only to poverty.” The word “surely/only” in each line emphasizes that a particular result will definitely happen.

The Berean Standard Bible has emphasized this result with the phrase as surely as. The New Revised Standard Version uses an emphatic word such as “surely” or “only” in each line. It has:

lead surely to abundance…comes only to want

Some versions clearly indicate the result but do not emphasize it explicitly. For example, see the New Living Translation (2004) and the Contemporary English Version, quoted below. Emphasize the contrasting results in a way that is natural in your language.

21:5a

The plans of the diligent bring plenty: This line refers to the plans of a hard-working person and their good results. Some other ways to translate this line are:

• Refer to the actions involved. For example:

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity (New Living Translation (2004))

• Refer to the people who act in these ways. For example:

If you plan and work hard, you will have plenty (Contemporary English Version)

21:5b

haste leads to poverty: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as haste is literally “all who hurry.” It refers to people who act impulsively or rashly, without thinking or planning. It is implied that such people are in a hurry to get rich. As in 21:5a, some other ways to translate this line are:

but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
if you act too quickly, you will never have enough (Good News Translation)

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