New International Version
Proverbs 14:23
23All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!
Context of Proverbs 14:23
21It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. 22Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly. 25A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:23 word by word
בְּכָל־עֶ֭צֶב יִהְיֶ֣ה מוֹתָ֑ר וּדְבַר־שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:23
- Proverbs 12:24Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- Proverbs 28:19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
- John 6:27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
- Hebrews 6:10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
- Proverbs 10:10Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
- Ecclesiastes 5:3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
- 1 Timothy 5:13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23In all labor there is profit - If a man work at his trade, he gains by it; if he cultivate the earth, it will yield an increase; and in proportion as he labors, so will be his profit: but he who talks much labors little. And a man words is seldom a man of deeds. Less talk and more work, is one of our own ancient advices.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The contrast between a single, thorough deed, and the mere emptiness of speech.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. labour--painful diligence. talk ... penury--idle and vain promises and plans.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries