Proverbs 12:27

The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting,.... Because he takes none.

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. The slothful (man) roasteth not that which he took in hunting.

The slothful man; or, the deceitful man, as , who seeks to enrich himself by fraudulent and unjust practices. Roasteth not that which he took in hunting; doth not enjoy the fruit of his labours or devices, either because he doth not labour, and so hath nothing to waste or enjoy; or because God ofttimes deprives him either of such ill-gotten goods, or at least of a quiet and comfortable fruition of them. Is precious; yields him great comfort and satisfaction, partly because it abides with him, and partly because he hath God’ s favour and blessing with it.

Proverbs 12:27 The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious. Ver. 27. The slothful (or deceitful) man roasteth not that which he took in hunting.] He shall never enjoy his evil gotten goods; but "though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay, he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver." I read of a dishonest butcher that, having stolen an ox and caused it to be dressed on his wedding day, was on that very day apprehended, and not long after executed. I read of Tecelius, the Pope’ s pardon monger in Germany, that having by sale of indulgences scraped together a huge amount of money, and returning for Rome, he was met, and eased of his cash by an odd fellow, who being afterwards prosecuted for a felon, produced a pardon for future sins granted him by Tecelius himself, and being thereupon acquitted by the judge he roasted that which that other old fox had taken in hunting. But the substance of a diligent man is precious.] Great in value, whatsoever it be in quantity; as a small boxful of pearls is more worth than mountains of pebbles. The house of the righteous hath much treasure; though there be but curta suppellex, res augusta dotal, he is without that care in getting, fear in keeping, grief in losing, - those three fell vultures that feed continually on the heart of the rich worldling, and dissweeten all his comforts. Jabal that dwelt in tents, and tended the herds, had Jubal to his brother, the father of music. Jabal and Jubal, diligence and complacence, good husbandry and a well contenting sufficiency, dwell usually together.

(27) The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting.—Or, does not net, (i.e., secure) his prey; but a valuable possession to a man is diligence.

Verse 27. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting] Because he is a slothful man, he does not hunt for prey; therefore gets none, and cannot roast, that he may eat. There is some obscurity in the original, on which the versions cast little light. Coverdale translates the whole verse thus: "A discreatfull man schal fynde no vauntage: but he that is content with what he hath, is more worth than golde." My old MS. Bible: The gylful man schal not fynd wynnynge: and the substance of a man schal ben the pris of gold. By translating רמיה remiyah the deceitful, instead of the slothful man, which appears to be the genuine meaning of the word, we may obtain a good sense, as the Vulgate has done: "The deceitful man shall not find gain; but the substance of a (just) man shall be the price of gold." But our common version, allowing רמיה remiyah to be translated fraudulent, which is its proper meaning, gives the best sense: "The fraudulent man roasteth not that which he took in hunting," the justice of God snatching from his mouth what he had acquired unrighteously. But the substance of a diligent man] One who by honest industry acquires all his property-is precious, because it has the blessing of God in it.

27. roasteth not] i.e. will not take the trouble to dress the animal which he has caught; or, better, never catches an animal to dress. Others, however, would render the word (which occurs nowhere else), catcheth not (R.V. marg.), or, killeth not (Maurer) his prey, οὐκἐπιτεύξεται, “will not (take the trouble to) catch,” LXX. the substance &c.] Rather, the precious substance of men is to the diligent, R.V. text; or, is to be diligent, R.V. marg.; the diligent temperament is itself the treasure; κτῆμαδὲτίμιονἀνὴρκαθαρός, a precious possession is a man that is pure, LXX.

The word rendered “roasteth” occurs nowhere else; but the interpretation of the King James Version is widely adopted.

27. The slothful man roasteth not — After a somewhat careful study of this difficult passage, I incline to the following translation: The indolent man shall not “roast,” or catch, prey.