Proverbs 18:9 (LSB)

Passage

He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the stomach.

Proverbs 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is set securely on high.

Proverbs 18:11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own delusion.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "slack", "brother", and "destroys". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "slack" and "brother", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "The words of a whisperer are like..." into verse 10's "The name of Yahweh is a strong...", so "slack" and "brother" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "slack" and "brother" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.