29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
29 Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.
16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
16 This is bad luck, for sure - naked he came, naked he went. So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke?
16 And this also is a severe evil-- Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing-like working for the wind.
(Read Ecclesiastes 5:9-17)
The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less will worldly abundance satisfy spiritual desires. The more men have, the better house they must keep, the more servants they must employ, the more guests they must entertain, and the more they will have hanging on them. The sleep of the labourer is sweet, not only because he is tired, but because he has little care to break his sleep. The sleep of the diligent Christian, and his long sleep, are sweet; having spent himself and his time in the service of God, he can cheerfully repose in God as his Rest. But those who have every thing else, often fail to secure a good night's sleep; their abundance breaks their rest. Riches do hurt, and draw away the heart from God and duty. Men do hurt with their riches, not only gratifying their own lusts, but oppressing others, and dealing hardly with them. They will see that they have laboured for the wind, when, at death, they find the profit of their labour is all gone like the wind, they know not whither. How ill the covetous worldling bears the calamities of human life! He does not sorrow to repentance, but is angry at the providence of God, angry at all about him; which doubles his affliction.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 11:29
Commentary on Proverbs 11:29
(Read Proverbs 11:29)
He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is unable to hold the wind, or to satisfy himself with it.