Amplified Bible
Proverbs 21:25
25The desire of the lazy kills him, For his hands refuse to labor;
Proverbs 21:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
- New International Version (NIV)The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.
Context of Proverbs 21:25
23He who guards his mouth and his tongue Guards himself from troubles. 24“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride. The desire of the lazy kills him, For his hands refuse to labor; 26He craves all the day long [and does no work], But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has]. 27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive [to the Lord]. How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:25 word by word
תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:25
- Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise,
- Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
- Proverbs 13:4The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition], But the soul (appetite) of the diligent [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.
- Proverbs 15:19The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.
- Proverbs 19:24The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish, But will not even bring it to his mouth again.
- Proverbs 20:4The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives; So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].
- Proverbs 22:13The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”
- Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man lacking understanding and common sense;
- Proverbs 26:13The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!”
- Matthew 25:26“But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25The desire of the slothful killeth him - He desires to eat, drink, and be clothed: but as he does not labor, hence he dies with this desire in his heart, envying those who possess plenty through their labor and industry. Hence he is said to covet greedily all the day long, Proverbs 21:26, while the righteous, who has been laborious and diligent, has enough to eat, and some to spare.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25Killeth him - He wastes his strength and life in unsatisfied longings for something which he has not energy to gain. The wish to do great or good things may sometimes be taken for the deed, but if the hindrance is from a man‘s own sloth, it does but add to his condemnation.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-26Verses 25-26 Here is the misery of the slothful; their hands refuse to labour in an honest calling, by which they might get an honest livelihood; yet their hearts cease not to covet riches, pleasures, and honours, which cannot be obtained without labour. But the righteous and industrious have their desires satisfied.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. desire--that is, of ease and idleness brings him to starvation.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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