God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 13:4
4A lazy person craves food and there is none, but the appetite of hard-working people is satisfied.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- 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.
Context of Proverbs 13:4
2A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability, but the appetite of treacherous people ⌞craves⌟ violence. 3Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin. A lazy person craves food and there is none, but the appetite of hard-working people is satisfied. 5A righteous person hates lying, but a wicked person behaves with shame and disgrace. 6Righteousness protects the honest way of life, but wickedness ruins a sacrifice for sin.
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 10:4Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands bring riches.
- Proverbs 12:11Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat, but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.
- Proverbs 26:13A lazy person says, “There’s a ferocious lion out on the road! There’s a lion loose in the streets!”
- Numbers 23:10The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust. Who can count them or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel? Let me die the death of innocent people. Let my end be like theirs.”
- Proverbs 2:2if you pay close attention to wisdom, and let your mind reach for understanding,
- Proverbs 8:34Blessed is the person who listens to me, watches at my door day after day, and waits by my doorposts.
- 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 11:25A generous person will be made rich, and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.
- Proverbs 28:25A greedy person stirs up a fight, but whoever trusts the Lord prospers.
- Psalms 92:14Even when they are old, they still bear fruit. They are always healthy and fresh.
- Isaiah 58:11The Lord will continually guide you and satisfy you even in sun-baked places. He will strengthen your bones. You will become like a watered garden and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries