An inheritance gained easily ¹  in the beginning will not be blessed ²  in the end. ³ 

biblegateway Pro 20:21

An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end.

An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately.

An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning will never be blessed in the end.

biblegateway Pro 20:21

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

bibleoremus Pro 20:21

An estate quickly acquired in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

If you begin by amassing possessions in haste, they will bring you no blessing in the end.

biblegateway Pro 20:21

An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.

An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

biblegateway Pro 20:21

An inheritance gained easily ¹  in the beginning will not be blessed ²  in the end. ³ 

¹ tc The Kethib reads מְבֻחֶלֶת (mÿbukhelet), “gotten by greed” (based on a cognate Syriac verb, “to be greedy”); but the Qere is מְבֹהֶלֶת (mÿvohelet), “gotten hastily [or, quickly].” A large number of mss and the ancient versions read with the Qere (cf. KJV, ASV “gotten hastily”; NAB “gained hastily”; NIV “quickly gained”; NRSV “quickly acquired”).

¹ sn If the inheritance is obtained quickly, it could mean prematurely (e.g., Luke 15:12) or cruelly (Prov 19:26). The inheritance is gained without labor or without preparation.

² tn The form is the Pual imperfect, “will not be blessed,” suggesting that divine justice is at work.

² sn The Hebrew verb means “enriched, made fruitful, prospered.” Whatever the inheritance was, it will not reach its full potential or even remain permanent.

³ tn Heb “in its end”; KJV, ASV “the end thereof.”