English Standard Version
Proverbs 12:11
11Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Proverbs 12:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
- New Living Translation (NLT)A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
Context of Proverbs 12:11
9Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread. 10Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 12Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. 13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Read all of Proverbs 12Proverbs 12:11 word by word
עֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף רֵיקִ֣ים חֲסַר־לֵֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- He that tillethעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: labourH5647
- his landאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
- shall be satisfiedשָׂבֵעַώâba‛ ώâbêa‛ · to satisfyH7646
- with breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- but he that followethרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
- vainרֵיקrêyq rêq · worthlessH7386
- voidחָסֵרchâsêr · lackingH2638
- of understandingלֵבlêb · heartH3820
Cross-references for Proverbs 12:11
- Proverbs 13:23The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
- Proverbs 14:4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
- Proverbs 27:27There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.
- Proverbs 28:19Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
- Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
- Psalms 128:2You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
- Ephesians 4:28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
- Proverbs 1:10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
- Proverbs 4:14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
- Proverbs 6:32He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
- Proverbs 7:7and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
- Proverbs 9:6Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
- Proverbs 13:20Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
- Judges 9:4And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.
Commentaries on Proverbs 12:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11He that tilleth his land - God's blessing will be in the labor of the honest agriculturist. But he that followeth vain persons - He who, while he should be cultivating his ground, preparing for a future crop, or reaping his harvest, associates with fowlers, coursers of hares, hunters of foxes, or those engaged in any champaign amusements, is void of understanding; and I have known several such come to beggary. To this verse the Septuagint add the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11Verse 11 It is men's wisdom to mind their business, and follow an honest calling. But it is folly to neglect business; and the grace of God teaches men to disdain nothing but sin.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11This proverb is repeated with a different ending in Proverbs 28:19.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The idler's fate is the result of indolence and want of principle (Pr 6:32; 7:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 12:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 12
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries