Proverbs Chapter 20 verse 21 Holy Bible
An inheritance `may be' gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
read chapter 20 in ASV
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
read chapter 20 in BBE
An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
read chapter 20 in DARBY
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
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read chapter 20 in WBT
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, Won't be blessed in the end.
read chapter 20 in WEB
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 21. - An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning - or, which in the beginning, is obtained in haste - but the end thereof shall not be blessed; or, its end shall not be blessed. The Khetib gives מְבֹהֶלֶת, which (comp. Zechariah 11:8) may mean "detested," but this gives no sense; it is better, with the Keri, to replace kheth with he, and read מְבֹהֶלֶת (meboheleth), "hastened," "hastily acquired" (see Proverbs 13:11, Septuagint). The maxim, taken in connection with the preceding verse, may apply to a bad son who thinks his parents live too long, and by violence robs them of their possessions; or to one who, like the prodigal in the parable, demands prematurely his portion of the paternal goods. But it may also be taken generally as denouncing the fate of those who make haste to be rich, being unscrupulous as to the means by which they gain wealth (see on Proverbs 23:11; 28:20, 22). A Greek gnome says roundly - Οὐδεὶς ἐπλούτησεν ταχέως δίκαιος ὤν. "No righteous man e'er grew rich suddenly."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) The end thereof shall not be blessed.--Comp. Proverbs 28:20 : the evil means by which he acquired the possession will, at the last, be visited upon him. Thus Jacob was punished severely for the selfishness by which he gained the birthright, and for the fraud by which he obtained the blessing belonging to his brother.
