Pro 13:4 | NETfull | STEP | The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.

Proverbs 13:4

4 The appetite ^{▼▼ The noun נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, traditionally “soul”) has a broad range of meanings, and here denotes “appetite” (e.g., Ps 17:9; Prov 23:3; Eccl 2:24; Isa 5:14; Hab 2:5; BDB 660 s.v. 5.c) or (2) “desire” (e.g., Deut 12:20; Prov 19:8; 21:10; BDB 660 s.v. 6.a).} of the sluggard ^{▼▼ The contrast is between the “soul (= appetite) of the sluggard” (נַפְשׁוֹ עָצֵל, nafsho ’atsel) and the “soul (= desire) of the diligent” (נֶפֶשׁ חָרֻצִים, nefesh kharutsim) – what they each long for.} craves ^{▼▼ The Hitpael verb means “to lust after; to crave.” A related verb is used in the Decalogue’s prohibition against coveting (Exod 20:17; Deut 5:21).} but gets nothing,
but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied. ^{▼▼ Heb “will be made fat” (cf. KJV, NASB); NRSV “is richly supplied.”}