Proverbs 23:4

Proverbs 23:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!

Context of Proverbs 23:4

2If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; 3don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you. Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. 6Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.

Proverbs 23:4 word by word

אַל־תִּיגַ֥ע לְֽהַעֲשִׁ֑יר מִֽבִּינָתְךָ֥ חֲדָֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Labourיָגֵעַyâga‛ · be weary/toilH3021
• not to be richעָשַׁר‛âshar · to enrichH6238
• ceaseחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
• from thine own wisdomבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH998

Cross-references for Proverbs 23:4

• Proverbs 28:20The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.
• John 6:27But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
• 1 Timothy 6:8So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
• Proverbs 26:12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
• Isaiah 5:21What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
• Romans 11:25I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.
• Romans 12:16Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Commentaries on Proverbs 23:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Labour not to be rich - Let not this be thy object. Labour to provide things honest in the sight of God and all men; and if thou get wealth, do not forget the poor, else God's curse will be a canker even in thy gold. Cease from thine own wisdom - בינתך binathecha, thy own understanding or prudence. The world says, "Get rich if thou canst, and how thou canst." Rem, si possis, recte; si non, quocunque modo rem; "Get a fortune honestly if thou canst; but if…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Cease from thine own wisdom - i. e., “Cease from the use of what is in itself most excellent, if it only serves to seek after wealth, and so ministers to evil.” There is no special contrast between “thine own wisdom” and that given from above, though it is of course implied that in ceasing from his own prudence the man is on the way to attain a higher wisdom.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-5Verses 4-5 Be not of those that will be rich. The things of this world are not happiness and a portion for a soul; those that hold them ever so fast, cannot hold them always, cannot hold them long.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Saying 7: Wealth can be a blessing from God (Proverbs 3:9–10, 15–16; 10:22), but some things in life matter more.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. (Compare 1Ti 6:9, 10). thine own wisdom--which regards riches intrinsically as a blessing.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 23:4

• Conceit
• Confidence
• Covetousness
• False Confidence
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Clothe
• Correction
• Dainty
• Desirous
• Drunkard
• Poverty
• Riotous
• Sell
• Wine
• Face

Commentaries on Proverbs 23

• 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