21:5 The plans of the diligent 1 lead 2 only to plenty, 3
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. 4
29:20 Do you see someone 5 who is hasty in his words? 6
There is more hope for a fool than for him. 7
1 tn The word “diligent” is an adjective used substantivally. The related verb means “to cut, sharpen, decide”; so the adjective describes one who is “sharp” – one who acts decisively. The word “hasty” has the idea of being pressed or pressured into quick actions. So the text contrasts calculated expeditiousness with unproductive haste. C. H. Toy does not like this contrast, and so proposes changing the latter to “lazy” (Proverbs [ICC], 399), but W. McKane rightly criticizes that as unnecessarily forming a pedestrian antithesis (Proverbs [OTL], 550).
2 tn The term “lead” is supplied in the translation.
3 tn The Hebrew noun translated “plenty” comes from the verb יָתַר (yatar), which means “to remain over.” So the calculated diligence will lead to abundance, prosperity.
4 tn Heb “lack; need; thing needed”; NRSV “to want.”
5 tn Heb “a man,” but there is no indication in the immediate context that this should be limited only to males.
6 sn The focus of this proverb is on someone who is hasty in his words. This is the person who does not stop to think, but acts on the spur of the moment. To speak before thinking is foolishness.
7 sn Rash speech cannot easily be remedied. The prospects for a fool are better (e.g., Prov 26:12).