Prepare thy work without
As Solomon did for the building of the temple; timber and stones were prepared, hewed, squared, and fitted for the building before brought thither, ( 1 Kings 5:18 ) ( 6:7 ) ; or diligently attend to thy business without doors, whatever it is, that thou mayest provide for thyself and family the necessaries and conveniences of life, which are in the first place to be sought after; and make it fit for thyself in the field;
let nothing be wanting in managing the affairs of husbandry, in tilling the land, in ploughing and sowing, and reaping, and gathering in the increase, that there may be a sufficiency for the support of the family; and afterwards build thine house;
when, though the blessing of God upon thy diligence and industry, thou art become rich, or however hast such a competent substance as to be able to build a good house, and furnish it in a handsome manner, then do it; but first take care of the main point, that you have a sufficiency to finish it; see the advice of Christ, ( Luke 14:28 Luke 14:29 ) ; necessaries are first to be sought after, before things ornamental and superfluous; first take care to live, and then, if you can, build a fine house. Jarchi interprets this of a man's first getting fields, vineyards, and cattle, something beforehand in the world, and then take a wife, when he is able to maintain her, whereby his house may be built up; see ( Ruth 4:11 ) .
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.