“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”

Context & Editorial Note

This verse appears in the Book of Proverbs, a biblical wisdom text presented in short teachings on conduct, judgment, speech, and practical living. In the King James Version, its early modern English reflects the 1611 translation tradition. The passage contrasts fleeting acquisition with the gradual results associated with labour, expressing a moral observation about diligence and durability rather than offering financial advice or a specific economic prescription.