Proverbs 16:26

Proverbs 16:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
• New International Version (NIV)The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.

Context of Proverbs 16:26

24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body. 25There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death. The appetite of a worker works for him, For his hunger urges him on. 27A worthless man devises and digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire. 28A perverse man spreads strife, And one who gossips separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 16:26 word by word

נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Heנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
• that labourethעָמֵל‛âmêl · labour(er)H6001
• labourethעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• for himself; for his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• cravethאָכַף'âkaph · to craveH404

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:26

• Proverbs 9:12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [for your own benefit]; If you scoff [thoughtlessly ridicule and disdain], you alone will pay the penalty.
• Proverbs 14:23In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All the labor of man is for his mouth [for self-preservation and enjoyment], and yet the desire [of his soul] is not satisfied.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we worked night and day [to pay our own way] so that we would not be a financial burden on any of you [for our support];

Commentaries on Proverbs 16:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26He that laboureth - No thanks to a man for his labor and industry; if he do not work he must starve.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26He that laboreth - literally, as in the margin, i. e., “The desire of the laborer labors for him” (or, helps him in his work), “for his mouth urges him on.” Hunger of some kind is the spring of all hearty labor. Without that the man would sit down and take his ease. So also, unless there is a hunger in the soul, craving to be fed, there can be no true labor after righteousness and wisdom (compare Matthew 5:6).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26Verse 26 We must labour for the meat which endureth to everlasting life, or we must perish.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Diligence is a duty due to one's self, for his wants require labor.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 16:26

• Hunger
• Industry

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Divine
• Haughty
• Lot
• Pride
• Whisperer
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings