Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 21:25
25A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work.
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
23The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. 24The arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,” acts with excessive arrogance. A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work. 26He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back. 27The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable — how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!
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, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.
- Proverbs 12:24The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.
- Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Proverbs 15:19A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway.
- Proverbs 19:24The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!
- Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.
- Proverbs 22:13The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
- Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.
- Proverbs 26:13The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road — a lion in the public square!”
- Matthew 25:26“His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered,
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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