He that tilleth his land - See Proverbs 12:11.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.