Proverbs 13:23

Proverbs 13:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.

Context of Proverbs 13:23

21Trouble chases sinners and it catches them. But righteous people will receive good things. 22When a good person dies, he leaves good things for his grandchildren. But a sinner's riches will belong to righteous people in the end. Even a poor man's field may give him enough food. But he loses it because wicked people rob him. 24If you do not punish your child, you show that you hate him. If you really love your child, you will punish him when he does something wrong. 25Righteous people have plenty of food to eat. But wicked people have an empty stomach.

Proverbs 13:23 word by word

רָב־אֹ֭כֶל נִ֣יר רָאשִׁ֑ים וְיֵ֥שׁ נִ֝סְפֶּ֗ה בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Muchרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• foodאֹ֫כֶל'ôkel · foodH400
• the tillageנִירnîyr nir · fallow groundH5215
• of the poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• of the poorרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• but there isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• destroyedסָפָהsâphâh · to snatchH5595
• for wantלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• of judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941

Cross-references for Proverbs 13:23

• Proverbs 12:11A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat. But anyone who works only on useless things is foolish.
• Proverbs 27:18If you take care of a fig tree, it will give you fruit to eat. If you take care of your master, he will give you honour.
• Proverbs 28:19A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat. But anyone who works only on useless things will always be poor.
• Ecclesiastes 5:9All of them take something for themselves from the land. The king himself receives his share of the crops.
• Proverbs 6:6Learn a lesson from the ants, you lazy person! See how hard they work.
• Proverbs 11:5An honest man who is righteous has a straight path to walk on. But the sins of a wicked person will cause him to fall down.
• Psalms 112:5People who are kind and lend money to others, and who work in an honest way, will enjoy a good life.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Trouble will not come to anyone who obeys the king's command. A wise person knows the right time to do things. He also knows the right way to do them.
• Jeremiah 8:7Even birds know when it is time for them to move to a different place. That is true for storks, doves, swallows and cranes. Birds know when it is time to return, but my people do not know my laws.

Commentaries on Proverbs 13:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23That is destroyed for want of judgment - O, how much of the poverty of the poor arises from their own want of management! They have little or no economy, and no foresight. When they get any thing, they speedily spend it; and a feast and a famine make the chief varieties of their life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The contrast is the ever recurring one between honest poverty and dishonest wealth. “The new-plowed field of the poor is much food, but there are those, who, though rich, perish through their disregard of right.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 The poor, yet industrious, thrive, though in a homely manner, while those who have great riches are often brought to poverty for want of judgment.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Hard work does not always lead to success (see Proverbs 10:426; 12:11; 13:4) because injustice exists in the world.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. The laboring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labor.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 13:23

• Industry
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Accomplish
• Advised
• Companion
• Defer
• Folly
• Hate
• Poetry
• Transgressor
• Wise
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 13

• 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