Proverbs 28:19

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread.—The curse of Genesis 3:17-19 being, in God’s mercy, turned into a blessing.

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 28:19-20. He that tilleth, &c. — See note on Proverbs 12:11. A faithful man — Hebrew, אישׁ אמונות, a man of truths, who deals truly and justly in all his bargains and transactions with men; shall abound with blessings — Shall have many blessings from God, and be well spoken of by men; but he that maketh haste to be rich — More than God allows him; he whose eager desires cause him to pursue riches by right or wrong, and who, therefore, is unfaithful and unjust in his dealings; shall not be innocent — Shall bring such guilt upon himself as will render him execrable both to God and men, and instead of blessings, shall bring curses and misery upon him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

28:18. Uprightness will give men holy security in the worst times; but the false and dishonest are never safe. 19. Those who are diligent, take the way to live comfortably. 20. The true way to be happy, is to be holy and honest; not to raise an estate suddenly, without regard to right or wrong. 21. Judgment is perverted, when any thing but pure right is considered. 22. He that hastens to be rich, never seriously thinks how quickly God may take his wealth from him, and leave him in poverty. 23. Upon reflection, most will have a better opinion of a faithful reprover than of a soothing flatterer.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In his ways - Rather "in his double ways" (as in Proverbs 28:6). The evil of vacillation rather than that of craft, the want of the one guiding principle of right, is contrasted with the straightforwardness of the man that "walketh uprightly."

Shall fall at once - Better, shall fall in one of them (his ways). The attempt to combine incompatibilities is sure to fail. Men cannot serve God and Mammon.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. (Compare Pr 10:4; 20:4).

vain persons—idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Pr 12:11; Ps 26:4).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

That followeth after vain persons; choosing their company, and imitating their example; who gives up himself to vanity and idleness, and so is fitly opposed to the diligent man in the former clause.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread,.... Or, "shall he filled" or "satisfied with bread" (s): shall have bread enough, and to spare; provisions of all sorts, and in great plenty; See Gill on Proverbs 12:11;

but he that followeth, after vain persons; empty idle persons; keeps company and spends his time with them, when he should be about the business of his calling:

shall have poverty enough; or be "filled with it" (t); he shall be exceeding poor, reduced to the utmost distress, be clothed in rags and destitute of daily food.

(s) "saturabitur pane", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Schultens. (t) "satiabitur", Tigurine version, Mercerus, Cocceius, Michaelis; "saturabitur", Pagninus, Montanus, Gejerus, Schultens.

Geneva Study Bible

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. Comp. Proverbs 12:11.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - A variation of Proverbs 12:11. Shall have poverty enough. The new clause marks the antithesis more clearly than that above. Proverbs 28:19

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

19 He who cultivateth his land is satisfied with bread,

     And he that graspeth after vanities is satisfied with poverty.

A variation of Proverbs 12:11. The pred. here corresponds to its contrast. On רישׁ (here and at Proverbs 31:7), instead of the more frequent ראשׁ, cf. Proverbs 10:4.