Proverbs 22:29

Proverbs 22:29 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

Context of Proverbs 22:29

27if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Proverbs 22:29 word by word

חָזִ֡יתָ אִ֤ישׁ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ לִֽפְנֵֽי־מְלָכִ֥ים יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־יִ֝תְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵ֥י חֲשֻׁכִּֽים׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Seestחָזָהchâzâh · to seeH2372
• thou a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• diligentמָהִירmâhîyr mâhir · quickH4106
• in his businessמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• he shall standיָצַבyâtsab · to standH3320
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• meanחָשֹׁךְchâshôk · obscureH2823

Cross-references for Proverbs 22:29

• Proverbs 10:4Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
• Proverbs 12:24Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
• 1 Kings 11:28Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
• Matthew 25:21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
• Romans 12:11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
• 2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Commentaries on Proverbs 22:29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29He shalt not stand before mean men - חשכים chashukkim, dark or obscure persons; men of no repute. Na he schal ben before un-noble men - Old MS. Bible. "Not amonge the symple people." - Coverdale. The general meaning of the proverb is, "Every diligent, active man, shall be at once independent and respectable."Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29The gift of a quick and ready intellect is to lead to high office, it is not to be wasted on a work to which the obscure are adequate.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29Saying 5: People who improve their skills and work hard will get the best jobs and work for the best employers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. Success rewards diligence (Pr 10:4; 21:5).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 22:29

• Diligence
• Industry

In the dictionaries

• Evil
• Hide
• Lender
• Prudent
• Rob
• Train
• Business
• Diligence; Diligent; Diligently
• Mean
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 22

• 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