Proverbs 13:11
New International Version
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

New Living Translation
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.

English Standard Version
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Berean Standard Bible
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

King James Bible
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

New King James Version
Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

New American Standard Bible
Wealth obtained from nothing dwindles, But one who gathers by labor increases it.

NASB 1995
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

NASB 1977
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Wealth obtained from empty effort dwindles, But the one who gathers with his hand abounds.

Amplified Bible
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].

Christian Standard Bible
Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it.

American Standard Version
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

Contemporary English Version
Money wrongly gained will disappear bit by bit; money earned little by little will grow and grow.

English Revised Version
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall have increase.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wealth [gained] through injustice dwindles away, but whoever gathers little by little has plenty.

Good News Translation
The more easily you get your wealth, the sooner you will lose it. The harder it is to earn, the more you will have.

International Standard Version
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.

Majority Standard Bible
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

NET Bible
Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

New Heart English Bible
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.

World English Bible
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Wealth from vanity becomes little, "" And whoever is gathering by the hand becomes great.

Young's Literal Translation
Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

Smith's Literal Translation
Wealth from vanity shall be diminished: and he gathering with the hand, shall increase.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by little and little is gathered with the hand shall increase.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Substance obtained in haste will be diminished. But what is collected by hand, little by little, shall be multiplied.

New American Bible
Wealth won quickly dwindles away, but gathered little by little, it grows.

New Revised Standard Version
Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Wealth acquired unjustly will diminish; but he who gathers justly shall increase his wealth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Property that comes by evil will decrease and he that gathers by righteousness will increase.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth little by little shall increase.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wealth gotten hastily with iniquity is diminished: but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall be increased. The righteous is merciful, and lends.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Father's Discipline
10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised. 11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied. 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.…

Cross References
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun. / For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Luke 12:15
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

James 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

Proverbs 10:2
Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. / When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Jeremiah 17:11
Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.”

Haggai 1:6
You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”

Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.

wealth

Proverbs 10:2
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

he

Proverbs 13:22,23
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just…

Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

Proverbs 27:23-27
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds…

by labour with the hand

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Diminished Dishonest Dishonestly Dwindle Fraud Gained Gathereth Gathering Gathers Gets Gotten Great Grow Hand Hands Hastily Increase Increased Increases Labour Less Makes Money Obtained Quickly Store Vanity Wealth Work
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Diminished Dishonest Dishonestly Dwindle Fraud Gained Gathereth Gathering Gathers Gets Gotten Great Grow Hand Hands Hastily Increase Increased Increases Labour Less Makes Money Obtained Quickly Store Vanity Wealth Work
Proverbs 13
1. a scoffer does not listen to rebuke














Dishonest wealth
The Hebrew word for "dishonest" here is "hebel," which can also mean "vain" or "empty." This suggests that wealth gained through deceitful or unethical means lacks substance and integrity. Historically, the Bible consistently warns against dishonest gain, as seen in the accounts of figures like Achan (Joshua 7) and Gehazi (2 Kings 5), whose ill-gotten gains led to their downfall. The emphasis is on the fleeting nature of wealth acquired through sin, which ultimately leads to spiritual and often material loss.

will dwindle
The Hebrew root "ma'at" conveys the idea of diminishing or decreasing. This reflects a divine principle that wealth obtained without righteousness is not sustainable. Archaeological findings from ancient Israelite settlements show that communities that thrived were often those that adhered to ethical practices, suggesting a correlation between moral integrity and lasting prosperity. The Bible teaches that God’s justice ensures that dishonest gains will not endure, as seen in the eventual downfall of corrupt empires and individuals throughout scripture.

but what is earned through hard work
The phrase "earned through hard work" is rooted in the Hebrew word "yad," meaning "hand," symbolizing labor and effort. This highlights the biblical value placed on diligence and industriousness. The Proverbs frequently extol the virtues of hard work (Proverbs 6:6-11), contrasting it with laziness and sloth. Historically, the agrarian society of ancient Israel depended heavily on the labor of its people, and the Bible reflects this cultural context by emphasizing the blessings that come from honest toil.

will be multiplied
The Hebrew word "rabah" means to increase or grow. This suggests that God blesses and expands the fruits of honest labor. The principle of multiplication here is not merely material but also spiritual, as hard work cultivates virtues such as patience, perseverance, and faithfulness. Scripturally, this is seen in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where faithful stewardship leads to greater responsibility and reward. The Bible assures believers that God honors and rewards those who work diligently and righteously, promising not just material abundance but also spiritual enrichment.

(11) Wealth gotten by vanity.--As we should say, "in an unsatisfactory manner," that is to say, by dishonesty.

Verse 11. - Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; literally, wealth by a breath; i.e. wealth obtained without labour and exertion, or by illegitimate and dishonest means, is soon dissipated, is not blessed by God, and has no stability. Vulgate, "riches acquired hastily;" Septuagint, "substance gotten hastily with iniquity." This makes the antithesis more marked, the contrast being between wealth gotten hastily and that acquired by diligent labour. Cito nata, cito pereunt, "Quickly won, quickly gone" (see on Proverbs 20:21; 21:5). Says the Greek maxim -

Μὴ σπεῦδε πλουτεῖν μὴ ταχὺς πένης γένῃ

"Haste not for wealth, lest thou be quickly poor." He that gathereth by labour; literally, with the hand, handful after handful. Vulgate, paulatim, "little by little," by patient industry. Labor improbus omnia vincit. Septuagint, "He that gathereth for himself with piety shall be increased." Then is added, "A good man is merciful and lendeth," from Psalm 37:26. The Septuagint here uses the term εὐσέβεια, which is received in St. Paul's pastoral Epistles and St. Peter's, taking the place of the earlier phrase, φόβος Κυρίου,

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Dishonest
מֵהֶ֣בֶל (mê·he·ḇel)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

wealth
ה֭וֹן (hō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1952: Wealth, sufficiency

will dwindle,
יִמְעָ֑ט (yim·‘āṭ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4591: To pare off, lessen, in, to be, small, few

but what is earned
וְקֹבֵ֖ץ (wə·qō·ḇêṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect

through
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

hard work
יָ֣ד (yāḏ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

will be multiplied.
יַרְבֶּֽה׃ (yar·beh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away but he (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 13:10
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