Some versions such as Good News Translation, New International Version, and Revised English Bible take this verse as a continuation of verse 25: in contrast to the lazy person whose desires are not satisfied, the (hardworking) righteous person has enough to be able to give generously to others.

“All day long the wicked covets”: As the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version indicate, “the wicked” is not found in the Hebrew text but comes from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is literally “All the day he desires desire” or “. . . desires greedily,” in which the subject “he” is the lazy person of the previous verse. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project favors the Hebrew text (a “B” rating), and translators should follow this also. New International Version “All day long he craves for more” is a good model to follow for this line.

“But the righteous gives and does not hold back”: This line contrasts the attitude of “the righteous” with the attitude of the lazy person. “The righteous” are “people who obey God” (Contemporary English Version); the thought behind this line is that they have plenty because they are righteous, and so they are able to give to others. “And does not hold back” goes with the main verb “gives”, and the whole expression means something like “give without sparing” (New International Version), “gives without ever refusing” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “can give, and give generously” (Good News Translation). In some languages this thought is best expressed by saying, for example, “But the person who is straight is able and willing to give plenty of things to others.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .