Proverbs 10 · Verse 16

Proverbs 10:16

The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 10:16, King James Version

Proverbs 10:16 in other translations

BSBThe labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.
WEBThe labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
ASVThe labor of the righteous tendeth to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin.
YLTThe wage of the righteous is for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.
DARBYThe labour of a righteous man tendeth to life; the revenue of a wicked man, to sin.
BBEThe work of the upright gives life: the increase of the evil-doer is a cause of sin.
WebsterThe labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

What does Proverbs 10:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. The industry of the righteous is alone truly successful, while the earnings of the wicked tempt and lead to sin.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 The labor of the righteous - The good man labors that he may be able to support life; this is his first object: and then to have something to divide with the poor; this is his next object. The fruit of the wicked to sin - This man lives to eat and drink, and his property he spends in riot and excess. God's blessings are cursed to him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 10:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

פְּעֻלַּ֣תpe.'u.Lat[the] reward ofH6468
צַדִּ֣יקtza.Dik[the] righteousH6662
לְחַיִּ֑יםle.chai.Yim[is] <to> lifeH2416
תְּבוּאַ֖תte.vu.'At[the] yield ofH8393
רָשָׁ֣עra.Sha'[the] wickedH7563
לְחַטָּֽאת\׃le.cha.Tat[is] <to> sinH2403

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 10:16

  • Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • Isaiah 3:10-11

    Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • 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.

  • Hebrews 6:10

    For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

  • Proverbs 11:18-19

    The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • Galatians 6:7-9

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

  • Proverbs 11:30

    The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

  • Matthew 12:33-34

    Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 7:17-18

    Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

  • Matthew 15:19

    For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

  • 2 Timothy 2:17-18

    And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
labour.
11:30; Isa 3:10,11; Joh 6:27; 1Co 15:58; Ga 6:7-9; Heb 6:10
the fruit.
Mt 7:17,18; 12:33,34; 15:19; Ro 6:23; 2Ti 2:17,18; 3:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 10:15

    The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

  • Proverbs 10:16

    The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

  • Proverbs 10:17

    He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Read all of Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
La obra del justo es para vida; mas el fruto del impío es para pecado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
L’œuvre du juste est pour la vie, le revenu du méchant est pour le péché.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Der Erwerb des Gerechten gereicht zum Leben, der Ertrag des Gesetzlosen zur Sünde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Opus justi ad vitam, fructus autem impii ad peccatum.