Proverbs 21:5The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court scribes compile practical wisdom for governing and daily life in Jerusalem, Israel...
The emotion here: satisfied wisdom from watching both success and failure
The original word
ḥārūṣ (חרוץ) — sharp, decisive, gold refined by cutting
Why it matters
Hebrew 'profit' here is the same word used for gold that's been refined and purified
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 21:5
The contrast isn't slow vs fast, but sharp focus vs scattered energy
Common misconceptionPeople think this condemns all quick decisions, but it's about scattered planning vs focused execution. Even quick decisions can be 'diligent' if they're sharp and focused.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 21:5
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 21:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 21:5 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 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include diligence, planning. Notable phrases: plans of the diligent.
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 21:5 mean to you, today?
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