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 King James Version (NKJV)The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.

Context of Proverbs 16:26

24Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. 25There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on. 27Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze. 28A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip 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 become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
• Proverbs 14:23Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!
• Ecclesiastes 6:7All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would 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