English Standard Version
Proverbs 13:4
4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Proverbs 13:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
- New International Version (NIV)A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
Context of Proverbs 13:4
2From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. 3Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 5The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. 6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.
Read all of Proverbs 13Proverbs 13:4 word by word
מִתְאַוָּ֣ה וָ֭אַיִן נַפְשׁ֣וֹ עָצֵ֑ל וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ חָרֻצִ֣ים תְּדֻשָּֽׁן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 13:4
- Proverbs 10:4A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
- Proverbs 12:11Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
- Proverbs 26:13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
- Numbers 23:10Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!"
- Proverbs 2:2making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
- Proverbs 8:34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
- John 6:27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."
- Hebrews 6:11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
- 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
- Proverbs 11:25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
- Proverbs 28:25A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
- Psalms 92:14They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
- Isaiah 58:11And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Commentaries on Proverbs 13:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing - We often hear many religious people expressing a desire to have more of the Divine life, and yet never get forward in it. How is this? The reason is, they desire, but do not stir themselves up to lay hold upon the Lord. They are always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They seek to enter in at the strait gate, but are not able, because they do not strive.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 The slothful desire the gains the diligent get, but hate the pains the diligent take; therefore they have nothing. This is especially true as to the soul.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. (Compare Pr 12:11, 27).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 13:4
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries