Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 10:4
4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.
Proverbs 10:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
- New International Version (NIV)Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Context of Proverbs 10:4
2Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death. 3The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but he denies the wicked what they crave. Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches. 5The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful. 6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Read all of Proverbs 10Proverbs 10:4 word by word
רָ֗אשׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה כַף־רְמִיָּ֑ה וְיַ֖ד חָרוּצִ֣ים תַּעֲשִֽׁיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 10:4
- Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.
- Proverbs 11:24One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
- Proverbs 12:24The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.
- Proverbs 19:15Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.
- Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.
- Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.
- Ecclesiastes 10:18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
- John 6:27Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.”
- Hebrews 6:11Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end,
- 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,
- Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Proverbs 21:5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Commentaries on Proverbs 10:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He becometh poor - God has ordered, in the course of his providence, that he who will not work shall not eat. And he always blesses the work of the industrious man.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Slack - The word is elsewhere translated as “deceitful” Job 13:7; Psalm 120:2-3; Hosea 7:16; Jeremiah 48:10. The two thoughts run easily into each other.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Lazy people make unwise choices, but hard workers make wise decisions (see also Proverbs 10:26; 26:13–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Ho 7:16). maketh rich--(compare Pr 10:22).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 10:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 10
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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