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

24Kind words are as sweet as honey. They also bring health and strength. 25You may think that you are on a good, straight road. But in the end, that road may lead you to death. When a worker feels hungry, it causes him to work more. So it helps him to get food to eat. 27Wicked people look for ways to hurt other people. The cruel things that they say are like flames of fire. 28People who tell lies cause arguments. If you tell people's secrets, you will lose all your friends.

Proverbs 16:26 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Heנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
• that labourethעָמֵל‛âmêl · labour(er)H6001
• labourethעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• for himself; for his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• cravethאָכַף'âkaph · to craveH404

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:26

• Proverbs 9:12If you are wise, it will help you in many ways. But if you think that you do not need wisdom, you will bring trouble on yourself.
• Proverbs 14:23If you work hard, something good will come. But if you only talk about it, you will become poor.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7The reason people work so hard is to get food. But they never have enough to eat.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11Try very much to live at peace with other people. Work hard at your own job. We have already told you that you must do these things.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8We always paid for the food that anyone gave to us. We worked hard all the time, during the day and at night. We did that so that we would not make trouble for any 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