New King James Version
Proverbs 13:4
4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
Proverbs 13:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
- New International Version (NIV)A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
Context of Proverbs 13:4
2A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. 3He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 5A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. 6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Read all of Proverbs 13Proverbs 13:4 word by word
מִתְאַוָּ֣ה וָ֭אַיִן נַפְשׁ֣וֹ עָצֵ֑ל וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ חָרֻצִ֣ים תְּדֻשָּֽׁן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 13:4
- Proverbs 10:4He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
- Proverbs 12:11He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
- Proverbs 26:13The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!”
- Numbers 23:10“Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number one-fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my end be like his!”
- Proverbs 2:2So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
- Proverbs 8:34Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
- John 6:27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
- Hebrews 6:11And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
- 2 Peter 1:5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
- Proverbs 11:25The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
- Proverbs 28:25He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
- Psalms 92:14They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,
- Isaiah 58:11The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Commentaries on Proverbs 13:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing - We often hear many religious people expressing a desire to have more of the Divine life, and yet never get forward in it. How is this? The reason is, they desire, but do not stir themselves up to lay hold upon the Lord. They are always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They seek to enter in at the strait gate, but are not able, because they do not strive.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 The slothful desire the gains the diligent get, but hate the pains the diligent take; therefore they have nothing. This is especially true as to the soul.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. (Compare Pr 12:11, 27).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 13:4
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