Proverbs 12:24

The diligent ¹  person ²  will rule, but the slothful ³  will become a slave. ⁴ 

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour.

The hand of the diligent will rule, But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.

The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

The diligent ¹  person ²  will rule, but the slothful ³  will become a slave. ⁴ 

¹ tn The term חָרַץ (kharats, “diligent”) means (1) literally: “to cut; to sharpen,” (2) figurative: “to decide” and “to be diligent. It is used figuratively in Proverbs for diligence. The semantic development of the figure may be understood thus: “cut, sharpen” leads to “act decisively” which leads to “be diligent.” By their diligent work they succeed to management. The diligent rise to the top, while the lazy sink to the bottom.

² tn Heb “the hand of the diligent.” The term “hand” is a synecdoche of part (= hand) for the whole (= person): diligent person. The hand is emphasized because it is the instrument of physical labor; it signifies the actions and the industry of a diligent person – what his hand does.

³ tn Heb “deceitful.” The term refers to one who is not diligent; this person tries to deceive his master about his work, which he has neglected.

⁴ tn Heb “will be for slave labor.” The term מַס (mas, “slave labor”) refers to a person forced into labor from slavery.