Proverbs 20:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

NIV: Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

NASB: The lazy one does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.

CSB: The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

NLT: Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

KJV: The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

NKJV: The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

This lazy person is not physically unable to do what needs to be done. He simply lacks the desire to work. Once again Solomon decries laziness. This follows many similar warnings and commands in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 6:9; 12:24; 18:9). Laziness is a mark of shame (Proverbs 19:24) and puts a person at greater risk of poverty (Proverbs 14:23; 20:13). A mark of laziness is failing to work at the proper time—to prepare now for future needs. This relates to the idea of planting so that one can harvest crops later. Those who don't plow won't bring in food. The lazy person who doesn't work now will find themselves in need before long.

The time for plowing and planting in the Middle East is the rainy season. This might mean working in muddy fields. Doing so demands too much work for a lazy person. But if the lazy person fails to work in less-than-ideal conditions, he will go hungry during harvest time. A lazy person today may refuse to work and prefer to look for handouts, but he does not have biblical support for doing so. Paul and his coworkers did not demand that the Thessalonian church support them. Instead, they worked day and night so they would not be a burden to the Thessalonian believers (2 Thessalonians 3:8–9). He told the Thessalonian church that if a person is not willing to work, let him not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10–11).

In this section of Solomon's wise sayings (Proverbs 10:1), he again discusses a wide range of subjects. These echo many of the common themes of the book of Proverbs. Solomon warns against foolishness (Proverbs 1:7), hastiness, angering authorities, and the consequences of sin and dishonesty. Several references condemn dishonest business dealings. Others note the value of diligence in making decisions.

This chapter of Proverbs belongs to the second division of the book that extends from Proverbs chapter 10 to chapter 22, in which there are nearly 400 wise sayings. Proverbs 20 continues the collection of Solomon's wise sayings. In this chapter Solomon focuses on numerous things which harm the unwise. Among them are laziness, wrong values, and bad decisions.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.