New King James Version
Proverbs 13:23
23Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
- New Living Translation (NLT)A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.
Context of Proverbs 13:23
21Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste. 24He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. 25The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
Read all of Proverbs 13Proverbs 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 12:11He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
- Proverbs 27:18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored.
- Proverbs 28:19He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
- Ecclesiastes 5:9Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
- Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
- Proverbs 11:5The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
- Psalms 112:5A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.
- Ecclesiastes 8:5He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,
- Jeremiah 8:7“Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment 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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries