Proverbs 13:11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. The royal court where Solomon observed merchants, tax collectors, and laborers in Jerusalem, modern-day Israel...
The emotion here: reflecting on his own wealth and its sources with sobering wisdom
The original word
hevel (הֶבֶל) — vapor, breath, something that vanishes quickly
Why it matters
Solomon controlled trade routes from Egypt to Mesopotamia, making him history's wealthiest king
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 13:11
This was written by the richest man who ever lived — Solomon knew both sides intimately
Common misconceptionPeople think this condemns all rapid wealth gain, but Solomon himself gained wealth quickly through trade. The issue isn't speed — it's dishonesty.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 13:11
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 13:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 13:11 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include integrity, work, wealth. Notable phrases: wealth dishonestly dwindles; gathers by hand.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 13:11 mean to you, today?
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