Proverbs 13:11

(KJV) Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
(1611 KJV) Wealth gotten by vanitie shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour, shall increase.
(1587 Geneva Bible) The riches of vanitie shal diminish: but he that gathereth with the hand, shall increase them.
(1568 Bishops Bible) Uaynly gotten goodes are soone spent: but they that be gathered together with the hande, shall encrease.

Counterfeit Versions
(AMP) Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].
(CEB) Riches gotten quickly will dwindle, but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
(CEV) Money wrongly gotten will disappear bit by bit; money earned little by little will grow and grow.

(CSB) Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it.

(ESV) Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
(NABRE) Wealth won quickly dwindles away, but gathered little by little, it grows
(NCV) Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow.
(NET) Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.
(NIRV) Money gained in the wrong way disappears. But money gathered little by little grows
(NIV) Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
(NRSV) Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it.
(RSV) Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Wealth quickly gained will dwindle, But the wealth of the one who gathers it little by little will increase.

Affected Teaching
Proverbs 13:11 is a continuation of the theme of those who work versus those who are lazy. Those who attempt to be wealthy by methods which are vain will see that their funds will eventually diminish. They will not be able to keep their wealth, sometimes this happens when a person becomes wealthy to quickly and they start going on a spending spree and soon they look around and find that their funds have been diminished. However, the person who labors for their money will see an increase in their money because they will realize they worked hard for it. Instead of them buying everything in sight, they will make proper investments and control their spending, this way they are handling their money with wisdom and will increase instead of going bankrupt. There is also a spiritual application to this verse. Those who study the Scriptures will increase in biblical knowledge and wisdom as the Holy Spirit implants the truths into them. Those who just listen to others and never do their own studies, will diminish in understanding because they will find it hard to bring to mind the sayings of others. The modern versions omit the fact that instead of seeking quick wealth, when one works for their money they are able to budget properly and build their wealth. The modern versions just claim that “little by little” will increase but they omit how that “little by little” is to be accomplished. God’s plan for man is to work for their wages. Genesis 3:19 (KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. The word in the Hebrew for “by labor” can also mean “by a hand” which denotes that a person is to be working with their hands in some form of labor. “Little by little” is not a proper translation of the word “al-yadh”.

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