Proverbs 18:9

9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

Proverbs 18:9 in Other Translations

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.

9 Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism.

9 He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

9 Whoever is lazy in his work is related to a vandal.

9 The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.

9 Anyone who doesn't want to work is like someone who destroys.

Proverbs 18:9 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:9

He also that is slothful in his work
Remiss in it; hangs down his hands, and does not care to make use of them, but neglects his business: is brother to him that is a great waster:
a prodigal man, who spends his substance in riotous living: the sluggard and the prodigal are brethren in iniquity; for, though they take different courses, they are both sinful, and issue in the same manner; both bring to poverty and want. Or, "brother to a master that wastes" ^F16; a slothful servant and a wasteful master are near akin, and come into the same class and circumstances. Jarchi interprets it,

``he that separateth from the law, though a disciple of a wise man, is a brother to Satan;''

whose name is Apollyon, the waster and destroyer. A man that is slothful in spiritual things, though a professor of religion, and has a place in the house of God, is brother to him that is a waster and persecutor of it; see ( Matthew 12:30 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (tyxvm lebl) "domino devaststionis", Gejerus; "domino dissipanti", Mercerus.

Proverbs 18:9 In-Context

7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 28:24