Proverbs 14:23
New International Version
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

New Living Translation
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

English Standard Version
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Berean Standard Bible
There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

King James Bible
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

New King James Version
In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

New American Standard Bible
In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

NASB 1995
In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

NASB 1977
In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

Legacy Standard Bible
In all painful labor there is profit, But mere words from the lips lead only to want.

Amplified Bible
In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

Christian Standard Bible
There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty.

American Standard Version
In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Contemporary English Version
Hard work is worthwhile, but empty talk will make you poor.

English Revised Version
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In hard work there is always something gained, but idle talk leads only to poverty.

Good News Translation
Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.

International Standard Version
In hard work there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty.

Majority Standard Bible
There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

NET Bible
In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty.

New Heart English Bible
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

Webster's Bible Translation
In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

World English Bible
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
In all labor there is advantage, "" And a thing of the lips [is] only to want.

Young's Literal Translation
In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips is only to want.

Smith's Literal Translation
In all labor will be profit: and the word of the lips only to want.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.

New American Bible
In all labor there is profit, but mere talk tends only to loss.

New Revised Standard Version
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
In all your labor there is profit; but he who is young is carefree and at ease. The LORD heals every wound; but the talk of the lips of the wicked tends only to poverty.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In all that concerns you, one thing is profitable, and he that is diminished in his way of life is quiet and will be pleasant. LORD JEHOVAH heals every sickness, and the speech of the lips of the evil damages them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
In all labour there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
With every one who is careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wise Woman
22Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 23There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.…

Cross References
James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? / Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? ...

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” / For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies. / We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

Proverbs 12:11
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.

Proverbs 28:19
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Ecclesiastes 10:18
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Proverbs 6:6-11
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. / Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, / it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. ...

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. / Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.

Proverbs 10:4
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.


Treasury of Scripture

In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.

all

Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 28:19
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

but

Proverbs 10:10
He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

Ecclesiastes 5:3
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat…

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Proverbs 14
1. A wise woman builds her house














There is profit
The Hebrew word for "profit" is "mothar," which implies an advantage or gain. In the context of ancient Israel, profit was not merely financial but also included spiritual and communal benefits. The agrarian society of the time understood profit as the fruit of one's labor, whether in crops, livestock, or trade. This phrase underscores the biblical principle that diligent work yields tangible and intangible rewards, aligning with the broader scriptural theme that God blesses the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12).

in all labor
The term "labor" is translated from the Hebrew word "amal," which conveys the idea of toil, effort, and hard work. In the historical context, labor was often physically demanding, involving agriculture, craftsmanship, or trade. The phrase "in all labor" suggests that every form of honest work, regardless of its nature, has inherent value and potential for reward. This reflects the biblical view that work is a divine ordinance, established by God from the beginning (Genesis 2:15), and is a means through which individuals can fulfill their God-given purpose.

but mere talk
The phrase "mere talk" is derived from the Hebrew "saphah," meaning lip or speech. This contrasts with labor, highlighting the futility of idle words without corresponding action. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, wisdom literature often warned against the dangers of empty rhetoric. The emphasis here is on the importance of action over words, echoing James 2:17, which states that faith without works is dead. This serves as a reminder that intentions and plans must be accompanied by effort to yield results.

leads only to poverty
"Poverty" is translated from the Hebrew word "machsor," indicating lack or need. The historical context of this term reflects the dire consequences of laziness or inaction in a subsistence economy, where survival depended on the fruits of one's labor. The phrase "leads only to poverty" serves as a cautionary statement, warning that reliance on words without deeds results in lack and insufficiency. This aligns with the biblical principle that diligence and hard work are essential to avoid poverty and achieve prosperity (Proverbs 10:4).

Verse 23. - In all labour there is profit. All honest industry has a reward, and all care and pain borne for a good object bring comfort and content (comp. Proverbs 10:22). So the Greek distich says -

Ἅπαντα τὰ καλὰ τοῦ πονοῦντος γίγνεται

"To him who labours all fair things belong." In contrast to the diligent are those who talk much and do nothing. But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (Proverbs 21:5). Those who work much get profit; those who talk much and do little come to want. So in spiritual matters Christ teaches that they who think that prayer is heard for much speaking are mistaken; and he adds, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 6:7; Matthew 7:21). Septuagint, "In every one who taketh thought (μεριμνῶντι) there is abundance; he who liveth pleasantly and without pain shall be in want." Cato, 'Dist.,' 1:10 -

"Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis:
Sermo datus cunctis, animi sapientia paucis."
. . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
There is
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

profit
מוֹתָ֑ר (mō·w·ṯār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4195: Abundance, preeminence

in all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

labor,
עֶ֭צֶב (‘e·ṣeḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6089: An earthen vessel, toil, a pang

but mere talk
וּדְבַר־ (ū·ḏə·ḇa·rś-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

leads only
אַךְ־ (’aḵ-)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

to poverty.
לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃ (lə·maḥ·sō·wr)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4270: A need, thing needed, poverty


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 14:23 In all hard work there is profit (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 14:22
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