Proverbs 13:23

Proverbs 13:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.
• New Living Translation (NLT)A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.

Context of Proverbs 13:23

21Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. 22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away. 24Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. 25The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Proverbs 13:23 word by word

רָב־אֹ֭כֶל נִ֣יר רָאשִׁ֑ים וְיֵ֥שׁ נִ֝סְפֶּ֗ה בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Muchרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• foodאֹ֫כֶל'ôkel · foodH400
• the tillageנִירnîyr nir · fallow groundH5215
• of the poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• of the poorרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• but there isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• destroyedסָפָהsâphâh · to snatchH5595
• for wantלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• of judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941

Cross-references for Proverbs 13:23

• Proverbs 12:11Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
• Proverbs 27:18The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
• Proverbs 28:19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
• Ecclesiastes 5:9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
• Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
• Proverbs 11:5The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
• Psalms 112:5Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
• Jeremiah 8:7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.

Commentaries on Proverbs 13:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23That is destroyed for want of judgment - O, how much of the poverty of the poor arises from their own want of management! They have little or no economy, and no foresight. When they get any thing, they speedily spend it; and a feast and a famine make the chief varieties of their life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The contrast is the ever recurring one between honest poverty and dishonest wealth. “The new-plowed field of the poor is much food, but there are those, who, though rich, perish through their disregard of right.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 The poor, yet industrious, thrive, though in a homely manner, while those who have great riches are often brought to poverty for want of judgment.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Hard work does not always lead to success (see Proverbs 10:426; 12:11; 13:4) because injustice exists in the world.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. The laboring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labor.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 13:23

• Industry
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Accomplish
• Advised
• Companion
• Defer
• Folly
• Hate
• Poetry
• Transgressor
• Wise
• Proverb

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