Proverbs 10:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

NIV: He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

NASB: He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

CSB: The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

NLT: A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

KJV: He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

NKJV: He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

This continues the theme of work ethic, begun in the prior verse (Proverbs 10:4). An old-fashioned English expression delivers a similar message: "make hay while the sun shines." A diligent person works when and how they can; the lazy person misses even the obvious opportunities to get ahead. When harvesttime is over, is it too late to collect crops. Sensible children tend to make their parents proud, parents of shiftless or selfish children are often ashamed. Laziness fails those children and leads them into a bad reputation.

Christians ought to diligently serve God in harvesting souls. When Jesus' disciples returned with food from a Samaritan village and offered Jesus something to eat, He replied that His food was to do the will of God (John 4:34). At that time, men in traditional white robes were streaming from the village to see Jesus. Jesus told His disciples: "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest" (John 4:35). Today is the day for harvesting souls. Tomorrow may be too late!

This chapter begins 375 "proverbs," which are general-case lessons or observations. These wise remarks continue the discussion of wisdom and wickedness begun in chapters 1—9. Most of the verses in chapter 10 contain a sharp contrast, with the conjunction "but" separating the lines. Often, the subject changes from verse to verse. The contrasting subjects include sons, treasure, work ethic, reputation, relationships, success, and speech.

In Proverbs 7—9 Solomon contrasts wisdom and wickedness in the symbolic persons of Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly. He calls upon his sons, or students, to choose wisdom, and he points out the benefits of choosing wisdom and the disastrous results of choosing wickedness. Chapter 10 presents vivid contrasts between wisdom and wickedness in many of life's settings. These comparisons continue into chapter 11.

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.