Classic KJV – Proverbs 12:27

How do we develop diligence? The old Hebrew maxim says: “A man who does not teach his son to work, teaches him to steal.” Diligence is learned, and it should be learned early in childhood. So the proverb doesn’t apply only to hunting, but to any task with an exciting start and tedious finish. The text ties in closely with a statement in Ecclesiastes 7:8: “The end of matter is better than its beginning.” This is the “other half” of the maxim, “A job well begun is a job half done.”

Translation Difficulties

The Hebrew of this proverb’s last phrase is ambiguous in English, and therefore hard to translate. The Darby says, “…but man’s precious substance is to the diligent.” The Revised Standard Version tries, “…but the diligent man will get precious wealth.” The NKJV renders it, “…but diligence is man’s precious possession.” The Young’s Literal Translation of 1899 states, “the wealth of a diligent man is precious.” The NIV says, “…but a diligent man prizes his possessions.” The ESV and the sense of the German Luther Bible take it to say, “…but the diligent man will get precious wealth.”

Three Alternatives

We find three alternatives to the English translation of the last part of the text:

• A person’s most valuable asset is a good work ethic; or
• Diligent people get good riches; or
• The assets of diligent people are well maintained.

Although the original Hebrew contains all these meanings, the NIV translation (the third alternative) seems to grasp the whole of the proverb, because it develops the contrast with the first phrase: “A lazy man does not care for his take, but a diligent man finishes up with all that he gets.” This is also the rendering of the classic KJV. The translation of the Hebrew matches Proverbs 1:13 where "precious possession" (Strongs Hebrew #1952) is translated as "precious goods". It refers to a physical asset, not an intangible, albeit admirable, character quality.

By implication, the text tells us not to store junk. If we can't fix it and use it we shouldn't be storing it. In my case I had to get rid of that old Raleigh three speed bike, an old furnace motor and an unsafe but operating table saw, all of which hadn't been used for over ten years. It's better to have fewer things in good working order than many things in need of repair. 

I also like the way proverbs scholar Bruce K. Waltke summarizes the differing translation options. "Whether as a non-finisher (too lazy to process the catch) or as a non-starter (too lazy to go hunting) the indolent man throws away his chances." ¹ This truth ties into the message of Proverbs 17:24 which warns against daydreaming while ignoring the opportunity for gain, right where we are now. 

Process the Prize

It is significant that God allows the lazy to succeed in capturing the prey. A successful hunt is a chance to prove whether or not the hunter will fully butcher his prize. Much legitimate criticism has been directed against hunting, because some hunt only for the sport, but waste the sustenance. Likewise, proper asset management is the key difference between a sluggard’s land and the field of an industrious gardener (Proverbs 24:30-34).

Debt and Clutter

If we cannot maintain what we already have, then perhaps our stuff has already become clutter. An invasion of debt may signal that we are stretched beyond our capacity for asset management. If God has not provided us the assets through our own profitable production or His gracious blessing, then we may not be able to handle any extra assets, and we should not be borrowing to get them.  We must be beware of debt. Debt may bring more “prey” than the “hunter” has the knives to butcher. I believe it was Hudson Taylor who said, "God's work, done God's way, does not lack God's supply."

High Standards

Conscientious, meticulous diligence. Most children have a hard time turning off lights to conserve energy when they leave a room.  By nature, children are not given to diligence. In almost every situation, they exhibit some lack of conscientiousness in what they do. When studying an Algebra lesson, a child may complete a page of work on a problem, but because he forgot to put the decimal point in the right place or left out a parenthesis, he will arrive at the wrong answer. He should receive no credit for the work he did, for the same reason that an engineer who makes the same error in the design of a bridge receives no credit when the bridge collapses! Mathematics trains this special trait of conscientious diligence, and in the scientific disciplines there is no substitution for this vital character trait.

This verse encourages us to a careful use of the resources that God gives us. Naturally, we all face the deleterious effects of the law of entropy. Things grow old and dilapidated over time. But when we take due care of our belongings, carefully maintaining our homes, automobiles, and yards, they do not lose value as quickly as they would if we were careless with them.²

Too Comfortable

In his classic work on Proverbs, author Charles Bridges warns us not to get too comfortable resting on our attainments (achievements). He urges us to spend and be spent. ³

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

Jesus’ last words were, “It is finished.” In the original Greek this is a one word expression, “tetelestai" meaning it is completed or as it sometimes appeared on barrels “paid in full”.

Jesus finishes whatever He starts—whether it’s His work in training and teaching His disciples, or in His agonizing work of redemption, accomplished through humiliation, torture, torment, and death on a cross (John 17:4). He not only does the right thing but He continues to do the right thing to the end. This is in keeping with the description of the Messiah "righteousness [always doing what is right] will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness [always finishing the job] the belt about His waist." (Isaiah 11:5)

“He does all things well,” Mark 7:37: Jesus was—and is—a finisher.

1. The Book of Proverbs, Volume 1. Bruce K. Waltke, Eerdmans Publishing Co. 2004, page 543

2. Generations Family Devotional, January 14, 2022, Partial commentary on Proverbs 12:27

3. A Modern Study in the Book of Proverbs, Charles Bridges' Classic Revised for Today's Reader by George F. Santa , Mott Media 1978, pages 178,179.