A contrast between industry and idleness, repeated at Proverbs 28:19. He that tilleth his land. Agriculture was the first of industries, and always highly commended among the Jews, bringing a sure return to the diligent (Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 20:4; Proverbs 27:18, Proverbs 27:23-27; and Ec Proverbs 20:28).
He that followeth after vain persons; rather, vain things; μάταια, Septuagint, empty, useless employments, profitless business, in contrast to active labour on the land. The Vulgate renders, qui sectatur otium, "he who studieth ease;" but the original, reikim, will not bear this meaning.
Is void of understanding; he not only, as is implied, will be reduced to poverty, but shows moral weakness and depravity. The Septuagint and Vulgate here introduce a paragraph not found in our Hebrew text: "He who takes pleasure ( ὅς ἐστιν ἡδύς) in carouses of wine will leave disgrace in his strongholds ( ὀχυρώμασι)" (Isaiah 28:7, Isaiah 28:8; Habakkuk 2:16).
Probably this verse is derived from the following, with some corruption of the text.