Proverbs 12:11

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks 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 a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. 10The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. 12The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures. 13Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.

Proverbs 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 13:23An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
• Proverbs 14:4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
• Proverbs 27:27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.
• Proverbs 28:19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
• Psalms 128:2You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
• Ephesians 4:28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
• Proverbs 1:10My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
• Proverbs 4:14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
• Proverbs 6:32But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
• Proverbs 7:7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
• Proverbs 9:6Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”
• Proverbs 13:20Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
• Judges 9:4They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers.

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

• Company
• Fellowship
• Industry
• Vanity

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Cruel
• Happen
• Heaviness
• Pathway
• Poetry
• Reproof
• Vain
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

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