Contradiction with Proverbs 12:11
Proverbs 27:18 emphasizes the reward of keeping a fig tree, which requires patience and diligence, while Proverbs 12:11 suggests that tending to fields leads to abundance, thus focusing on immediate productive tasks rather than patience.
Proverbs 12:11: He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain [persons is] void of understanding.
Contradiction with Proverbs 13:11
Proverbs 27:18 implies diligence over time leads to reward, whereas Proverbs 13:11 indicates that wealth gathered hastily diminishes, highlighting that quick efforts without patience are not sustainable.
Proverbs 13:11: Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. [by labour: Heb. with the hand]
Contradiction with Ecclesiastes 5:10
Proverbs 27:18 suggests satisfaction through patient care and labor, while Ecclesiastes 5:10 suggests that love of money or material gain never leads to satisfaction.
Ecclesiastes 5:10: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity.
Paradox #1
The potential contradiction in Proverbs 27:18 could arise from the idea of labor and reward. The verse suggests that tending to responsibilities, like caring for a fig tree, leads to personal gain. This can conflict with situations where hard work does not lead to rewards due to circumstances beyond one's control. Therefore, the belief that effort always results in benefit might not hold true in real-life experiences, where people may work hard but still face challenges and unfair outcomes.