get nothing / no possession

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “get nothing,” “no possession” or similar in English is translated in the Catholic Mandarin Chinese Sigao version and the Protestant Union Version with a historical Chinese idiom: yīwú suǒdé (一無所得 / 一无所得) or “nothing to show for.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

See also in need / none / have nothing / lacking.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:4

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 13:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “The stomach of a lazy person wants many things and does not get (them),
    but a hardworking person gets what he needs in/for his life.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even though the lazy person
    has great desires, they will not be fulfilled.
    But the hard workers
    will obtain all their desires.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If a man is lazy, whatever he desires-for, he can- never -obtain/possess it, but if he is diligent, he can-obtain/possess more than what he has-desire-for.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A lazy-one will absolutely not be-able-to-gain what he wants, but the industrious-one, he will be able to get all that he wants.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People who are lazy want things very much, but they will not get anything.
    People who work hard will get all that they want.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:4

13:4

This proverb contrasts the appetite/desire of the lazy person with that of the diligent person. The lazy person is never satisfied, but the diligent person is completely satisfied.

4a
The slacker craves yet has nothing,

4b but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

13:4a–b

The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent: The Hebrew text refers literally to the “soul of the lazy” and the “soul of the diligent.” Some versions show that the word “soul” is being used twice by representing it in both parts of the verse. For example:

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied (New International Version (2011))

See the note on 13:2b, where the Berean Standard Bible translates the word “soul” as “desire.”

In this context, the appetite or desires of lazy and diligent people probably include the physical hunger for food and sexual satisfaction as well as other desires. So it is recommended that you translate these parallel terms in a general way that does not refer only to one kind of desire. Here is one way to express this meaning:

4a No matter how much a lazy person may want something, he will never get it.

4b A hard worker will get everything he wants. (Good News Translation)

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