English Standard Version
Proverbs 22:29
29Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Proverbs 22:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
- New International Version (NIV)Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
Context of Proverbs 22:29
27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? 28Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Read all of Proverbs 22Proverbs 22:29 word by word
חָזִ֡יתָ אִ֤ישׁ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ לִֽפְנֵֽי־מְלָכִ֥ים יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־יִ֝תְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵ֥י חֲשֻׁכִּֽים׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 22:29
- Proverbs 10:4A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
- Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
- 1 Kings 11:28The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
- Matthew 25:21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
- Romans 12:11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
- 2 Timothy 4:2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Commentaries on Proverbs 22:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29He shalt not stand before mean men - חשכים chashukkim, dark or obscure persons; men of no repute. Na he schal ben before un-noble men - Old MS. Bible. "Not amonge the symple people." - Coverdale. The general meaning of the proverb is, "Every diligent, active man, shall be at once independent and respectable."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29The gift of a quick and ready intellect is to lead to high office, it is not to be wasted on a work to which the obscure are adequate.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29Saying 5: People who improve their skills and work hard will get the best jobs and work for the best employers.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. Success rewards diligence (Pr 10:4; 21:5).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 22:29
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 22
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries