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 [as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones. 25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death. The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on. 27A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire. 28A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.

Proverbs 16:26 word by word

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

• appetiteנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
• mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:26

• Proverbs 9:12If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
• Proverbs 14:23In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to want.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with your [own] hands, even as we charged you,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor have we eaten bread from any one without cost; but in toil and hardship working night and day not to be chargeable to any one of you:

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