Proverbs 24:27
New International Version
Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

New Living Translation
Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

English Standard Version
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Berean Standard Bible
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

King James Bible
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

New King James Version
Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.

New American Standard Bible
Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward, then, build your house.

NASB 1995
Prepare your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house.

NASB 1977
Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house.

Legacy Standard Bible
Establish your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; And afterwards, you shall build your house.

Amplified Bible
Prepare your work outside And get it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward build your house and establish a home.

Christian Standard Bible
Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house.

American Standard Version
Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.

Contemporary English Version
Get your fields ready and plant your crops before starting a home.

English Revised Version
Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Prepare your work outside, and get things ready for yourself in the field. Afterwards, build your house.

Good News Translation
Don't build your house and establish a home until your fields are ready, and you are sure that you can earn a living.

International Standard Version
First do your outside work, preparing your land for yourself. After that, build your house.

Majority Standard Bible
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

NET Bible
Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.

New Heart English Bible
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

Webster's Bible Translation
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

World English Bible
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Prepare your work in an out-place, "" And make it ready in the field—go afterward, "" Then you have built your house.

Young's Literal Translation
Prepare in an out-place thy work, And make it ready in the field -- go afterwards, Then thou hast built thy house.

Smith's Literal Translation
Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field afterwards; and build thy house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.

New American Bible
Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can build your house.

New Revised Standard Version
Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Prepare your work out of doors, and make it ready in the field; and afterwards build your house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Prepare your works in the outdoors and make ready in your field, and after that build your house.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Prepare thy work without, And make it fit for thyself in the field; And afterwards build thy house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Prepare thy works for thy going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Further Sayings of the Wise
26An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips. 27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house. 28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.…

Cross References
Luke 14:28-30
Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? / Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, / saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

1 Corinthians 14:40
But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Genesis 41:34-36
Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. / Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. / This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

Nehemiah 4:17-18
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. / And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

1 Kings 5:17-18
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. / So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Exodus 18:19-23
Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. / Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. / Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. ...

2 Corinthians 8:11
Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.

Genesis 6:14-16
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. / And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. / You are to make a roof for the ark, finish its walls a cubit from the top, place a door in the side of the ark, and build lower, middle, and upper decks.

Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. / For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.


Treasury of Scripture

Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.

1 Kings 5:17,18
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house…

1 Kings 6:7
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

Luke 14:28-30
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? …

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Proverbs 24
1. Precepts and Warnings














Complete your outdoor work
This phrase emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tasks and setting a strong foundation before moving on to other endeavors. The Hebrew root for "complete" (כּוּן, kun) suggests establishing or preparing something firmly. In ancient agrarian societies, outdoor work, such as farming, was crucial for survival. This instruction reflects a principle of diligence and foresight, encouraging believers to ensure that their basic needs and responsibilities are met before pursuing additional projects. Spiritually, it can be seen as a call to establish one's life on the solid ground of faith and obedience to God.

and prepare your field
The word "prepare" (עָרַךְ, arak) in Hebrew conveys the idea of arranging or setting in order. Preparing the field was a necessary step to ensure a successful harvest. This preparation involves hard work, planning, and patience. Historically, fields had to be plowed, sown, and maintained, which required significant effort and attention. In a spiritual sense, this can be likened to preparing one's heart and life for God's work, ensuring that we are ready to receive His blessings and fulfill His purposes.

after that
This phrase indicates a sequence of actions, highlighting the importance of timing and order. It suggests that there is a proper time for everything, echoing the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes 3:1. In the context of this proverb, it underscores the necessity of completing foundational tasks before moving on to more personal or luxurious pursuits. This principle can be applied to spiritual growth, where foundational truths and disciplines must be established before deeper understanding and experiences can be pursued.

you can build your house
The act of building a house represents establishing a permanent and secure dwelling place. In ancient times, building a house was a significant undertaking that required resources, planning, and stability. The Hebrew word for "build" (בָּנָה, banah) also carries the connotation of establishing a family or legacy. This phrase suggests that once the essential work is done and the foundation is secure, one can focus on personal growth and development. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for building one's life on the teachings of Christ, ensuring that our spiritual "house" is built on the rock of His word and not on shifting sands.

(27) Prepare thy work without . . .--Method in work is here advised; first till the ground, and then build the house which will be maintained by the produce of the field. In the spiritual life, too, we should seek to "perceive and know what things we ought to do," if we are not to waste time and energy upon unsuitable and unattainable objects.

Verse 27. - Prepare thy work without. The proverb enjoins a man to look well to his resources before he undertakes to build a house or to establish a family. "Without" (chuts) (Proverbs 7:12; Proverbs 8:26); in the fields. Put in due order all immediate work in thy farm. And make it fit for thyself in the field; and get ready for what has to come next. That is, in short, steadily and with due foresight cultivate your land; provide abundant means of subsistence before you attempt to build up your house. A suitor had, as it were, to purchase his bride from her relations by making considerable presents; it was therefore necessary to provide a certain amount of wealth before contemplating matrimony. And afterwards build thy house. This is, indeed, the meaning of the passage; but the Hebrew makes a difficulty, as it is literally, "afterwards and thou shalt build." Some have supposed that some words have dropped out of the text (Cheyne, 'Job and Solomon'). But vav in וּבָנִיתָ, coming after a date or notification of time, as here after אַהַר (comp. Genesis 3:5), "has the future signification of a perfect consecutive" (Delitzsch), equivalent to "after that, then, thou mayest build." Septuagint, "Prepare thy works for thy going forth (εἰς τη,ν ἔξοδον), and get ready for the field, and come after me, and thou shalt build up thine house." In a spiritual sense, the heart must be first cleared of thorns, and opened to genial influences, before the man can build up the fabric of virtuous habits, and thus arrive at the virtuous character.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Complete
הָ֘כֵ֤ן (hā·ḵên)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

your outdoor
בַּח֨וּץ ׀ (ba·ḥūṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors

work,
מְלַאכְתֶּ֗ךָ (mə·laḵ·te·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

and prepare
וְעַתְּדָ֣הּ (wə·‘at·tə·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6257: To be ready

your field;
בַּשָּׂדֶ֣ה (baś·śā·ḏeh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

after that,
אַ֝חַ֗ר (’a·ḥar)
Adverb
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

you can build
וּבָנִ֥יתָ (ū·ḇā·nî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

your house.
בֵיתֶֽךָ׃ (ḇê·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 24:27 Prepare your work outside and get your (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 24:26
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