KJV ORIGINAL
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
A lazy person's desires will destroy them, because they refuse to work with their hands.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is warning that laziness becomes self-destructive when someone wants things but won't work for them.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from Solomon's collection of wisdom sayings, written around 950 BC for teaching practical life skills. In ancient Israel's agricultural society, physical labor was essential for survival - those who refused to work would literally face starvation. The wisdom literature emphasized that diligence and hard work were not just economic necessities but moral virtues that reflected God's character.
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