Proverbs 24:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

NIV: and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

NASB: Then your poverty will come like a drifter, And your need like an armed man.

CSB: and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need, like a bandit.

NLT: then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

KJV: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

NKJV: So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

Hardship, accidents, and fraud can strip a person of their wealth. Another means to poverty is laziness: failing to do what needs to be done, because of disinterest or apathy. Most lazy people intend to accomplish tasks. They recognize those as jobs which need to be done. Yet they put them off until, to their harm, they realize it's too late and there's not enough time to get the job done. This can feel as sudden and dramatic as an ambush from robbers—yet it's the lazy person's own fault.

In most cases, success demands diligent work. A person must work even when evidence of positive results is slow to appear. A farmer prepares his field and vineyard without seeing visible results, but later, when the harvest comes, he reaps the good results of his work. James observes in James 5:7: "See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains." Similarly, Paul writes: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Just as successful farming requires work, even so successful Christian service requires work, and "in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

This statement is identical to Proverbs 6:11.

Proverbs 24:23–34 comes after a list of thirty wise teachings; these were recorded by Solomon while not necessarily being his own ideas. The wisdom which concludes this chapter is cited with less clarity, other than being attributed to wise speakers. These address discrimination, rebuke of the wicked, honesty, wise planning, revenge, and the consequences of laziness.

Solomon continues to list wise sayings (Proverbs 22:17–21), rounding out his promised list of thirty teachings. These endorse integrity, accepting good advice, reputation, and ethical actions. The lessons also stress godly attitudes about vengeance, bitterness, and companionship. After verse 23 come additional proverbs. These may or may not have been Solomon's own words, but at least some appear to be his thoughts. Key points in these verses are the need for impartiality in judgment, godly reputation, and work ethic.

This chapter continues thirty sayings of wise people (Proverbs 22:17–21), as collected and endorsed by Solomon. The remainder of the passage are additional wise statements, which are not as clearly attributed. Some of the lessons are framed as warnings, followed by reasons. The lessons contained here are more detailed than most of the proverbs in this book.

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.