This verse is another saying that makes a contrast between laziness and hard work. See also 12.27 and 15.19.

“The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing”: The Hebrew is literally “Craving but nothing the soul of the lazy,” where “but nothing” requires an action such as getting or obtaining to be understood. The Hebrew word translated “soul” was used in verse 3 for physical life, but here it is used to mean the appetite or desire; that is, “The lazy person’s appetite craves things but gets nothing.” For “sluggard” refer to 6.6. “Craves” has the sense of wanting or being hungry for something.

“While the soul of the diligent is richly supplied”: This line contrasts the “soul of the sluggard” with that of the “diligent”. “Diligent”, as in 10.4 and 12.24, refers to an industrious or hardworking person. “Richly supplied” is literally “will be made fat,” as in 11.25 where Revised Standard Version has “be enriched,” and means to grow rich or become prosperous.

Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates the whole verse: “The lazy wants but doesn’t get; he who works prospers.”

We may also say, for example, “If you are lazy, you will get nothing; if you are diligent, you’ll get riches.”

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 .