Proverbs 12:11

11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense.

Proverbs 12:11 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 12:11

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread
This was man's work in innocence; this he was doomed to do with the sweat of his brow after his fall; every man has his land to till, or some calling, work, or business, to be employed in, either civil or sacred; and it becomes him to be diligent therein, and such as are shall not want bread, but shall have a sufficiency of it; but he that followeth vain [persons is] void of understanding:
that neglects his business, loiters away his time, spends it in the company of vain, empty, and unprofitable persons; as he shows himself by such a choice that he is void of understanding, or "wants a heart" ^F19, to improve his time and talents; so before long it is much if he does not want a piece of bread. Thus he that is concerned to have the fallow ground of his heart ploughed up, and righteousness, truth, and holiness, sown therein, that it may bring forth fruit; or who is careful about the welfare and salvation of his immortal soul, and makes diligent use of all means to promote its spiritual good, shall be filled with the bread of life, shall find it and eat it, to the joy and rejoicing of his heart; and, on the contrary, he that associates himself with vain persons, empty of all that is spiritually good, that have only empty notions of religion; or who attend to the profane and vain boastings of antichrist, and all false teachers; and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, whose words eat as do a canker; these, as they show themselves to want wisdom, so they are and will be brought into starving and famishing circumstances in a spiritual sense. Jarchi interprets the former clause of a man that is studious in his doctrine, that revolves it in his mind, that he may not forget it; and the Arabic version renders the last clause,

``they that run after false demons, their minds are deficient;''

see ( Revelation 9:20 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (bl rox) "deficiens corde", Pagninus; "carens corde", Montanus; "deficitur corde", Schultens.

Proverbs 12:11 In-Context

9 Better is a man of humble standing who works for himself than one who plays the great man but lacks bread.

10 A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense.

12 The strong tower of the wicked comes to ruin, but the root of the righteous stands firm.

13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.