Proverbs 12:24

the slothful Lit. sloth. See Proverbs 10:4. Comp. Proverbs 13:1-2.

shall be under tribute Rather, shall come, or be put, under task-work, i.e. servile or enforced labour. The phrase occurs frequently (e.g. Deuteronomy 20:11; Judges 1:30; Judges 1:33; Judges 1:35), and is rendered, "be, or become tributary," both in A.V. and R.V., though with the alternative, "be subject to task-work," in R.V. marg. But in all those places the words, "and shall serve thee" are added, showing that it was not in money but in toil, as with the Israelites in Egypt, that the "tribute" was to be paid. Hence the phrase comes to have the meaning which it has here.