John Gill Commentary Proverbs 6:11

"So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man." — Proverbs 6:11 (ASV)

So shall your poverty come as one that travelleth
Either swiftly and suddenly, as a traveller makes haste to get to his journey's end, and comes upon his family or friends at an unawares; or though he moves gradually, by slow paces and silent steps, yet surely: and so it signifies that poverty should come upon the sluggard very quickly, and before he was aware: and though it might come by degrees, yet it would certainly come; and your want as an armed man ^F21 ; or, "your wants as a man of shield": denoting many wants that should come rushing in one upon another, like a man armed with shield and buckler; appearing with great terror and force, not to be resisted. It denotes the unavoidableness of being brought into penury and want by sloth, and the terribleness of such a condition.

The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, add, ``but if you are not slothful, your harvest shall come as a fountain (as the inundation of a fountain, Arabic); but want shall flee as an evil racer (as an evil man, Arabic; far from you, Vulgate Latin):'' but this is not in the Hebrew text.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F21: (Nnm vyak) "tanquam vir clypei", Montanus; "vir clypeatus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator