Proverbs 16:26

Proverbs 16:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
• New International Version (NIV)The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
• New Living Translation (NLT)It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.

Context of Proverbs 16:26

24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 25There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. 27An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. 28A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 16:26 word by word

נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Heנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
• that labourethעָמֵל‛âmêl · labour(er)H6001
• labourethעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• for himself; for his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• cravethאָכַף'âkaph · to craveH404

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:26

• Proverbs 9:12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
• Proverbs 14:23In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

Commentaries on Proverbs 16:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26He that laboureth - No thanks to a man for his labor and industry; if he do not work he must starve.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26He that laboreth - literally, as in the margin, i. e., “The desire of the laborer labors for him” (or, helps him in his work), “for his mouth urges him on.” Hunger of some kind is the spring of all hearty labor. Without that the man would sit down and take his ease. So also, unless there is a hunger in the soul, craving to be fed, there can be no true labor after righteousness and wisdom (compare Matthew 5:6).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26Verse 26 We must labour for the meat which endureth to everlasting life, or we must perish.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Diligence is a duty due to one's self, for his wants require labor.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 16:26

• Hunger
• Industry

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Divine
• Haughty
• Lot
• Pride
• Whisperer
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 16

• 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