Amsal 28:19

28:19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, ¹ 

but whoever chases daydreams ²  will have his fill ³  of poverty.

[28:19]  ¹ tn Or “will have plenty of food” (Heb “bread”); so NAB, NASB, NCV.

[28:19]  ² tn Heb “empty things” or “vain things”; NRSV “follows worthless pursuits.”

[28:19]  sn Prosperity depends on diligent work and not on chasing empty dreams. The proverb is essentially the same as Prov 12:11 except for the last expression.

[28:19]  ³ tn The repetition of the verb strengthens the contrast. Both halves of the verse use the verb יִשְׂבַּע (yisba’, “will be satisfied; will be filled with; will have enough”). It is positive in the first colon, but negative in the second – with an ironic twist to say one is “satisfied” with poverty.