Proverbs 21:25

What the sluggard desires ¹  will kill him, ²  for his hands ³  refuse to work.

Pr 6:6-11; Pr 12:24,27; Pr 13:4; Pr 15:19; Pr 19:24; Pr 20:4; Pr 22:13; Pr 24:30-34; Pr 26:13,16; Mt 25:26

¹ tn Heb “the desire of the sluggard” (so ASV, NASB). This phrase features a subject genitive: “what the sluggard desires.” The term תַּאֲוַת (ta’avat, “desire; craving”) is a metonymy of cause. The craving itself will not destroy the sluggard, but what will destroy him is what the craving causes him to do or not to do. The lazy come to ruin because they desire the easy way out.

² tn The verb תְּמִיתֶנּוּ (tÿmitennu) is the Hiphil imperfect with a suffix: “will kill him.” It is probably used hyperbolically here for coming to ruin (cf. NLT), although it could include physical death.

³ sn “Hands” is figurative for the whole person; but “hands” is retained in the translation because it is often the symbol to express one’s ability of action.