Proverbs 21:25

Proverbs 21:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
• New International Version (NIV)The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.

Context of Proverbs 21:25

23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24The proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, he worketh in the arrogance of pride. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26There is that coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not. 27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!

Proverbs 21:25 word by word

תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃Read the interlinear

• desireתַּאֲוָהta'ăvâh · desireH8378
• handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• refuseמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:25

• Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
• Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be put under taskwork.
• Proverbs 13:4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
• Proverbs 15:19The way of the sluggard is as an hedge of thorns: but the path of the upright is made an highway.
• Proverbs 19:24The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
• Proverbs 20:4The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
• Proverbs 22:13The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.
• Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
• Proverbs 26:13The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
• Matthew 25:26But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;

Commentaries on Proverbs 21:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25The desire of the slothful killeth him - He desires to eat, drink, and be clothed: but as he does not labor, hence he dies with this desire in his heart, envying those who possess plenty through their labor and industry. Hence he is said to covet greedily all the day long, Proverbs 21:26, while the righteous, who has been laborious and diligent, has enough to eat, and some to spare.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25Killeth him - He wastes his strength and life in unsatisfied longings for something which he has not energy to gain. The wish to do great or good things may sometimes be taken for the deed, but if the hindrance is from a man‘s own sloth, it does but add to his condemnation.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-26Verses 25-26 Here is the misery of the slothful; their hands refuse to labour in an honest calling, by which they might get an honest livelihood; yet their hearts cease not to covet riches, pleasures, and honours, which cannot be obtained without labour. But the righteous and industrious have their desires satisfied.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. desire--that is, of ease and idleness brings him to starvation.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 21:25

• Covetousness
• Idleness
• Slothfulness

In the dictionaries

• Mind
• Ponder
• Toss
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 21

• 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