God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 10:4
4Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands bring riches.
Proverbs 10:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
- New International Version (NIV)Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Context of Proverbs 10:4
2Treasures gained dishonestly profit no one, but righteousness rescues from death. 3The Lord will not allow a righteous person to starve, but he intentionally ignores the desires of a wicked person. Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands bring riches. 5Whoever gathers in the summer is a wise son. Whoever sleeps at harvest time brings shame. 6Blessings cover the head of a righteous person, but violence covers the mouths of wicked people.
Read all of Proverbs 10Proverbs 10:4 word by word
רָ֗אשׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה כַף־רְמִיָּ֑ה וְיַ֖ד חָרוּצִ֣ים תַּעֲשִֽׁיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 10:4
- Proverbs 6:6Consider the ant, you lazy bum. Watch its ways, and become wise.
- Proverbs 11:24One person spends freely and yet grows richer, while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.
- Proverbs 12:24Hard-working hands gain control, but lazy hands do slave labor.
- Proverbs 19:15Laziness throws one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.
- Proverbs 20:4A lazy person does not plow in the fall. He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing.
- Proverbs 24:30I passed by a lazy person’s field, the vineyard belonging to a person without sense.
- Ecclesiastes 10:18A roof sags because of laziness. A house leaks because of idle hands.
- John 6:27Don’t work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you. After all, the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.”
- Hebrews 6:11We want each of you to prove that you’re working hard so that you will remain confident until the end.
- 2 Peter 1:5Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge;
- Proverbs 13:4A lazy person craves food and there is none, but the appetite of hard-working people is satisfied.
- Proverbs 21:5The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity, but everyone who is ⌞always⌟ in a hurry ends up in poverty.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation ⌞of your faith⌟. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.
Commentaries on Proverbs 10:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He becometh poor - God has ordered, in the course of his providence, that he who will not work shall not eat. And he always blesses the work of the industrious man.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Slack - The word is elsewhere translated as “deceitful” Job 13:7; Psalm 120:2-3; Hosea 7:16; Jeremiah 48:10. The two thoughts run easily into each other.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Lazy people make unwise choices, but hard workers make wise decisions (see also Proverbs 10:26; 26:13–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Ho 7:16). maketh rich--(compare Pr 10:22).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 10:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 10
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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