Proverbs 12:27

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

The slothful (man) roasteth not that which he took in hunting. The Hebrew for "roasteth" [ chaarak (H2760)] does not occur in this sense elsewhere. In the Chaldee, in which Daniel 3:27 is written, it is found in this sense. The slothful man cloth not take in hunting anything to roast; for hunting would require labour, which he dislikes. Jacob acted the part of such a slothful man, who is also a deceitful man (Proverbs 12:24, note), when he roasted for his father that which he had not taken in hunting, and deceived him. Fuller ('Miscellanea') takes the Hebrew from the kindred word karakim, 'lattice,' or enclosure-work within which the wild beasts were caught (cf. the Hebrew, Song of Solomon 2:9). The Septuagint confirm this [ouk epiteuxetai theeran], 'Shall not obtain prey in hunting.' So the Vulgate Chaldaic, Syriac, Arabic. Ewald, from the Arabic, supports the English version.

But the substance of a diligent man (is) precious - `but precious substance (will be the portion) of a diligent man.' Like a successful hunter by his "diligent" labour ensures "precious substance," which he both takes and permanently enjoys. DeDieu takes the words in their Hebrew order, thus-`But the substance of a precious man is gold' (as the Hebrew, chaaruwts (H2742), English version, "diligent," may also mean). I prefer the English version.