KJV King James Version
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
WEB World English Bible
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
ASV American Standard Version
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
Surrounding context — Proverbs 20
1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
3 [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Proverbs 10:4He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.Proverbs 19:15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.Proverbs 13:4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.Matthew 25:3-10They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:Matthew 25:24-28Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:Proverbs 26:13-16The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.2 Peter 1:5-11And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;Proverbs 24:34So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.Proverbs 6:10-11[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:Proverbs 19:24A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Proverbs 20:4
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Proverbs 20:4
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →