Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 13:11
Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.
11. by vanity ] i.e. by untrustworthy methods, such as speculation, gambling, high rate of interest with poor security (comp. Pro 21:6), in contrast to hard work, by labour (lit. with the hand). The word vanity in this sense of what is unreliable and transitory is a key-word of the Book of Ecclesiastes.
The LXX. and Vulg. render in haste, quick returns, (with the addition ), festinata.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
By vanity – literally, by a breath, i. e., by a windfall, or sudden stroke of fortune, not by honest labor. The general meaning seems to be that the mere possession of riches is as nothing; they come and go, but the power to gain by skill of hand (labor) is everything.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Right methods of obtaining wealth
The text implies three things.
I. That wealth in itself is a good thing.
1. All men strive for it, in obedience to the original command–to possess the earth and subdue it.
2. The services it can render are evidences of its value.
3. The Word of God approves it. Not money, but the love of it, is a root of evil.
II. Wealth may be obtained in different ways. The two ways mentioned in the text.
1. The way of vanity, which may represent fraud, gambling, reckless speculation, etc.
2. The way of labour, in all which there is profit (Pro 14:23). See frequent commendations of diligence in the Scriptures.
III. The increase or decrease of wealth is affected by the mode of its acqusition. Gotten by vanity, it diminishes; procured by labour, it shall increase. Two considerations as to the constitution of human nature help us to understand how this comes about.
1. What a man does not work for he seldom appreciates. Difficulty of attaining augments value. Easy got, soon spent, has passed into a proverb.
2. What one does not value he is apt to squander. Spendthrifts are those who value money slightly. (F. Wagstaff.)
Ill-gotten national wealth
What is true of private is no less true of public possessions. When such possessions are obtained, on the part of any country, by self-aggrandising and unprovoked aggression, extermination and conquest, what are such means but injustice, oppression, and murder, on an extended scale? Gathering possessions by a violation of the rights of others, of the principles of equity and honour and good faith, or, in one word, of the royal law, is turning a countrys glory into shame, and under the righteous and retributive administration of Heaven the extension of dominion is but an extension of danger. (R. Wardlaw.)
Wealth gotten by vanity
When the famous M. Blanc, who founded the Monte Carlo Casino, was proprietor of a gambling establishment at Homburg, it was his custom to bring down 300,000 francs every morning to meet the banks losses. When this sum was exhausted the bank was said to be broke, and the doors were closed for the day, and it is recorded that the unique feat of breaking the bank was accomplished three days in succession by the notorious South American Spaniard, Garcia. After this his luck began to turn, and six weeks later he was obliged to ask M. Blanc for a few louis with which to return to Paris. (Daily Mail.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 11. Wealth gotten by vanity] Wealth that is not the result of honest industry and hard labour is seldom permanent. All fortunes acquired by speculation, lucky hits, and ministering to the pride or luxury of others, &c., soon become dissipated. They are not gotten in the way of Providence, and have not God’s blessing, and therefore are not permanent.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By vanity; by vain, or deceitful, or wicked practices. Shall be diminished, because the curse of God attends upon it.
By labour; by diligence in an honest calling.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. by vanityor,”nothingness,” that is, which is vain or useless to thepublic (as card playing or similar vices).
gathereth . . .labour(Compare Margin), little by little, laboriously.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished,…. In an unjust or unlawful way, either by robbery and theft, as Aben Ezra; or by fraud and tricking, by overreaching and circumventing others; or by vain practices, as by cards or dice, and by stage playing and the like; or by curious and illicit arts, as necromancy, judiciary astrology, and such like things; whatever is gotten in a wicked way very seldom lasts long; it lessens by little and little till it comes to nothing f; see
Jer 17:11; and sometimes very quickly and suddenly, all at once; thus that mass of riches which the church of Rome has got together by her vain and wicked practices, by her idolatry, pardons, and indulgences, will in one hour come to nought, Re 18:17;
but he that gathereth by labour shall increase, or “that gathereth by the hand” or “in [it]” g; by hand labour in an honest way, or with the diligent hand, which maketh rich; who labours with his hand and gets by in sufficient to support himself and his family, and to give to the necessities of others; who does not lay it up in coffers, but keeps it in his hand to distribute; such generally thrive and flourish: some copies read it, “he that gathereth, , unto the hand” h, that gathers and puts it into the hands of others; that liberally communicates to the poor; he shall increase, as commonly liberal persons do; so the Targum,
“he that gathereth and giveth to the poor shall increase in substance.”
f “De malo quaesitis vix gaudet tertius baeres”, Herat. g “in manu”, Pagninus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator “super manu”, Gussetius, p. 310. “super manum”, Michaelis, Schultens. h “Usque ad manum”, Montantus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11 Wealth by means of fraud always becomes less;
But he that increaseth it by labour gains always more.
We punctuate (with Makkeph, as in Ven. 1521, Antw. 1582, Frank.-on-the-Oder 1595, Gen. 1618, Leyden 1662), not (as other editions, and e.g., also Lwenstein); for the meaning is not that the wealth becomes less by (Targ., but not the Syr.), or that it is less than (Umbreit), but is one idea: wealth proceeding from ; but tub ; , properly a breath (Theod. or ), then appearance without reality (Aquila, ), covers itself here by that which we call swindle, i.e., by morally unrestrained fraudulent and deceitful speculation in contrast to solid and real gain. The translations: (lxx), (Symmachus, Quinta),
(Note: A fragment of an anonymous translation, so called from the place it holds in Origen’s Hexapla.)
festinata (Jerome), do not necessarily suppose the phrase = , Pro 20:21 Ker , for wealth which comes is obtained in a windy (unsubstantial) manner and as if by storm, of which the proverb holds good: “ so gewonnen so zerronnen ” (= quickly come, quickly go). needs neither to be changed into that unhebraic (Hitzig) nor into the cognate (Ewald), but yet inferior to in the content of its idea. The contrast of one who by fraud and deception quickly arrives at wealth is one who brings it together in his hand, ( Venet.), i.e., always as often as he can bear it in his hand and bring it forth (Ewald, Bertheau, Elster, and Lagarde), or according to the measure of the hand, (which means “according to external ability”), so that , which is applied to the formation of adverbs, e.g., Psa 31:24 (Hitzig) – by both explanations has the meaning of “gradually,” – is used as in the post-bibl. Hebr. = , e.g., Schabbath 156a ( vid., Aruch under ) (distinguish from = with thought, intentionally, Berachoth 52b). There is scarcely a word having more significations that . Connected with , it means at one time side or place, at another mediation or direction; that which is characteristic here is the omission of the pronoun ( , ). The lxx translates with the unrestrained freedom which it allows to itself by , and has following another line, (from Psa 37:26).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
This shows that riches wear as they are won and woven. 1. That which is won ill will never wear well, for a curse attends it which will waste it, and the same corrupt dispositions which incline men to the sinful ways of getting well incline them to the like sinful ways of spending: Wealth gotten by vanity will be bestowed upon vanity, and then it will be diminished. That which is got by such employments as are not lawful, or not becoming Christians, such as only serve to feed pride and luxury, that which is got by gaming or by the stage, may as truly be said to be gotten by vanity as that which is got by fraud and lying, and will be diminished. De male qusitis vix gaudet tertius hres–Ill-gotten wealth will scarcely be enjoyed by the third generation. 2. That which is got by industry and honesty will grow more, instead of growing less; it will be a maintenance; it will be an inheritance; it will be an abundance. He that labours, working with his hands, shall so increase as that he shall have to give to him that needs (Eph. iv. 28); and, when it comes to that, it will increase yet more and more.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Acquisition of Wealth
Verse 11 declares that wealth acquired by dishonest or questionable means shall not be permanent; but that gained by honest labor shall increase. The LORD frowns upon dishonesty, but blesses that which is honorable and just, Pro 6:16-19; Pro 10:2; Pro 21:6; Pro 20:21; Pro 28:20; Pro 28:22.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 13:11. Vanity, rather fraud. By labour, literally by the hand. or handful after handful.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 13:11
TWO WAYS OF GROWING RICH
I. Wealth can be gotten. Wealth may be acquired by those who have it not. The wealth of the sea is within the reach of the fisherman. If he put down his net, sooner or later he will probably be rewarded with some gain. There is wealth in the sea of human life. Although the experience of some may be to toil all night and to take nothing, yet the rule is that men who make an effort will succeed in bringing into their nets more or less of worldly gain. Some degree of skill and toil are needed to do this, but probably there was never a time when talent of any kind, or patient endeavour, was more certain to meet with a reward than in the present day. Aptitude for business will probably make a man a thriving tradesman if it does not make him a merchant prince. Intellectual power and artistic skill have a wide field in which to work, and are generally sure of liberal reward. Probably there never was an age when those who have nothing but the net of genius to spread upon the sea of life were so certain to land gold upon the shore.
II. But there are two ways of growing rich. There is the way of vanity. Some men come into a fortune by a single throw of the diceby a fortunate speculationa lucky hit. They may not be dishonest as men generally understand the word, although as a rule such transactions will not bear too much exposure to the sunlight, but it is not the best way to get money. Then there are others who for a lifetime have nibbled at the lawful gains of other men, and have thus become rich. And others have gotten their wealth by some one act of dishonesty, of which society is ignorant or is unable to punish. All these ways of making money are vain in comparison with that of patient, honest, daily toil. The reaper gathers in the golden grain in the sweat of his face, an armful at each stroke of the sickle; step by step, hand by hand, he makes himself master of the field and gathers the wheat into the garner. So patient daily toil is the Divinely-ordained way to grow rich. The daily practice of industrious habits and the exercise of patience, which are thus rendered necessary, are beneficial to a mans moral nature.
III. The possession of wealth will be permanent or short-lived according to the way in which it has been acquired. l. Wealth gotten at a leap is generally diminished by the man who gained it. Such men are generally reckless in their expenditure, and squander a fortune in almost as short a time as they gained it. Such a sudden acquisition of wealth has been unfavourable to the formation of thrifty habits, and the man is not equal to his position. Many a gold-digger who has found in a day a nugget worth many thousands, has been a poor man again in a few months, and the experience of most men furnishes them with some similar illustration of the truth although not perhaps so striking.
2. Wealth gotten by dishonesty will be diminished by God. Time only is needed to make manifest the righteous judgment of God upon wealth gotten by such vanity. Like the prophets gourd, although it affords pleasant shelter to those who sit under it now, there is a worm at the root which will certainly bring it to nothing. Did we but know how some fortunes have been acquired, we should be less surprised at their possessors being suddenly reduced to beggary. It may be that those who are thus brought low are not the makers, but the possessors only, of wealth gotten by vanity, yet they have to pay the penalty. On the contrary, the man who has patiently and honestly gathered, little by little, a sufficiency, or even more, has gathered at the same time wisdom to use it, and has not forfeited the blessing of the Lord (chap. Pro. 10:22).
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
It is easier to make a fortune than to keep it. So say the worldly. Specially forbidden is the keeping of the bread of heaven (Exo. 16:19). It was to be gathered every morning. A man who keeps gathering on the hand is the man to stay rich. But the saint who hoards up the past, and lives upon the fortune that he had, is the Israelite who kept the manna, and who found that it bred worms and stank. Even happiness is not promoted by over-guard. Things won are done; joys soul lies in the doing. Continuing to work not only keeps wealth, but increases it, most particularly spiritual wealth.Miller.
The words admit of three renderings
(1) That of the A.V. Wealth gotten by vanity, i.e., by a windfall, or sudden stroke of fortune, not by honest labour, is soon diminished; or
(2) wealth is diminished by vanity, by empty and hollow ostentation; or
(3) wealth is diminished quicker than a breath. Of these
(1) is believed to be the best. In any case the general meaning seems to be that the mere possession of riches is as nothing; they come and go; but the power to gain by skill of hand is everything. By labour, or by the hand, has three possible meanings
(1), as in the A.V.;
(2) in proportion to his strength;
(3) in due measure.Plumptre.
Ill-gotten goods fly away without taking leave of the owner; leaving nothing but the print of talons to torment him (chap. Pro. 23:5). But he that gathereth by labour shall increase. Howbeit, sometimes, it is otherwise. Master, we have toiled all night, and taken nothing (Luk. 5:5).Trapp.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(11) Wealth gotten by vanity.As we should say, in an unsatisfactory manner, that is to say, by dishonesty.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Wealth by vanity Hebrew, from nothing, or without effort, “by fraud or impatient dishonesty.” Zockler.
Shall be diminished Waste away.
Gathereth by labour Hebrew, by, with, or upon the hand, as we say, by the handful. It is, however, procured by slow and toilsome effort, as by honest labour.
Shall increase This agrees with the general observation of mankind, as is witnessed by the many proverbial sayings expressive of it. The “hand” above represents all honest ways of industry, and is opposed to “vanity.” Comp. Pro 10:2; Pro 10:4; Pro 20:21; Jer 17:11; Psa 128:2. On wealth gotten by vanity, comp. Job 15:28-29; Job 20:15; Job 19:22; and “with the hand,” Pro 22:29; Pro 27:23; Pro 27:27.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 11. Wealth gotten by vanity,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 13:11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Ver. 11. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished. ] De male quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres, a Ill-gotten goods fly away without taking leave of the owner; leaving nothing but the print of talons to torment him. Pro 23:5 Many when they have a loss in their riches, it is as it were raked out of their bellies. Job 20:15 A piece of their very heart goes with it.
But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
a Horat.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
by labour = by the hand: “hand”being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the labour effected by it.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 13:11
Pro 13:11
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.”
“Wealth by means of fraud always becomes less; but he that increaseth it by labor gains always more. “The contrast here is of one who by fraud and deception quickly arrives at wealth,” with another who by honest toil and enterprise finds true prosperity.
Pro 13:11. Pulpit Commentary: Wealth obtained without labor and exertion, or by illegitimate and dishonest means is soon dissipated, is not blessed by God, and has no stability…Quickly won, quickly gone. Our saying: Easy come, easy go. But those who have obtained through hard work dont blow their money.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Wealth: Pro 10:2, Pro 20:21, Pro 28:8, Job 15:28, Job 15:29, Job 20:15, Job 20:19-22, Job 27:16, Job 27:17, Ecc 5:14, Jer 17:11, Hab 2:6, Hab 2:7, Jam 5:1-5
he: Pro 13:22, Pro 13:23, Pro 20:21, Pro 27:23-27, Psa 128:2
by labour: Heb. with the hand
Reciprocal: Jdg 19:16 – his work Pro 13:7 – is that maketh himself rich Pro 21:6 – getting Pro 28:20 – but Eph 4:28 – labour
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 13:11. Wealth gotten by vanity By vain, or deceitful, or wicked practices; shall be diminished Because the curse of God attends it, and the same corrupt dispositions which incline men to sinful ways of getting riches will incline them to the like sinful ways of spending them. Wealth gotten by vanity will be bestowed upon vanity, and then it will be diminished. That which is obtained by such employments as are not lawful, or not becoming Christians; as by gaming, by the stage, or by any employment which only serves to feed the pride and luxury of mankind, may as truly be said to be gotten by vanity, as that which is got by fraud and lying, and will be diminished; but he that gathereth by labour By diligence in an honest calling; shall increase Through the divine blessing, and his property and influence will become greater instead of growing less.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:11 {e} Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth {f} by labour shall increase.
(e) That is, goods evil gotten.
(f) That is, with his own labour.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Wealth obtained by fraud would be money gotten by not working for it. This kind of income dwindles, in that: though it is "easy come," it is also "easy go."
"This is a warning against wild speculation." [Note: Ross, p. 977.]