ImiZekeliso 6:11

Izhibhalo Ezingcwele

11 Boza ubuhlwempu bakho njengomhambi, Nokuswela kwakho njengendoda enengweletshetshe.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 20:4

Reciprocal: Job 15:24 - as a king Job 17:3 - strike Proverbs 6:4 - General Proverbs 13:25 - the belly Ecclesiastes 4:5 - fool

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth,.... Either swiftly and suddenly, as a traveller makes haste to get to his journey's end, and comes upon his family or friends at an unawares; or though he moves gradually, by slow paces and silent steps, yet surely: and so it signifies that poverty should come upon the sluggard very quickly, and before he was aware: and though it might come by degrees, yet it would certainly come;

and thy want as an armed man; or, "thy wants as a man of shield" u: denoting many wants that should come rushing in one upon another, like a man armed with shield and buckler; appearing with great terror and force, not to be resisted. It denotes the unavoidableness of being brought into penury and want by sloth, and the terribleness of such a condition. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, add,

"but if thou art not slothful, thy harvest shall come as a fountain (as the inundation of a fountain, Arabic); but want shall flee as an evil racer (as an evil man, Arabic; far from thee, Vulgate Latin):''

but this is not in the Hebrew text.

u כאיש מנן "tanquam vir clypei", Montanus; "vir clypeatus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The similitude is drawn from the two sources of Eastern terror: the “traveler,” i. e., “the thief in the night,” coming suddenly to plunder; the “armed man,” literally “the man of the shield,” the armed robber. The habit of indolence is more fatally destructive than these marauders.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 6:11. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth — That is, with slow, but surely approaching steps.

Thy want as an armed man. — That is, with irresistible fury; and thou art not prepared to oppose it. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic add the following clause to this verse: -

"But if thou wilt be diligent, thy harvest shall be as a fountain; and poverty shall flee far away from thee."

It is also thus in the Old MS. Bible: If forsothe unslow thou shul ben; shul comen as a welle thi rip; and nede fer shal fleen fro thee.