Proverbs 13 · Verse 4

Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 13:4, King James Version

Proverbs 13:4 in other translations

BSBThe slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
WEBThe soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
ASVThe soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
YLTThe soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
DARBYA sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
BBEThe hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
WebsterThe soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

What does Proverbs 13:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. (Compare Pr 12:11, 27).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing - We often hear many religious people expressing a desire to have more of the Divine life, and yet never get forward in it. How is this? The reason is, they desire, but do not stir themselves up to lay hold upon the Lord. They are always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They seek to enter in at the strait gate, but are not able, because they do not strive.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The slothful desire the gains the diligent get, but hate the pains the diligent take; therefore they have nothing. This is especially true as to the soul.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 13:4 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.

מִתְאַוָּ֣הmit.'a.Vah[is] covetingH183
וָ֭אַיִןVa.'a.yinand nothingH369
נַפְשׁ֣וֹnaf.Shoappetite hisH5315
עָצֵ֑ל'a.Tzela sluggardH6102
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁve.Ne.feshand [the] appetite ofH5315
חָרֻצִ֣יםcha.ru.Tzimdiligent [people]H2742
תְּדֻשָּֽׁן\׃te.du.Shanit will be made fatH1878

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

Cross references for Proverbs 13:4

  • Proverbs 12:24

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

  • Proverbs 12:11

    He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

  • 2 Peter 1:5-11

    And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. …

  • Proverbs 10:4

    He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

  • Proverbs 2:2-9

    So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. …

  • Proverbs 11:25

    The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

  • Proverbs 28:25

    He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

  • 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 6:11

    And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

  • Proverbs 8:34

    Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

  • Isaiah 58:11

    And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

  • Proverbs 26:13

    The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
desireth.
10:4; 12:11,24; 26:13; Nu 23:10
but.
2:2-9; 8:34; Joh 6:27; Heb 6:11; 2Pe 1:5-11
made.
11:25; 28:25; Ps 92:14; Isa 58:11

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

Context

  • Proverbs 13:3

    He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • Proverbs 13:4

    The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

  • Proverbs 13:5

    A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Read all of Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Desea, y nada alcanza el alma del perezoso: mas el alma de los diligentes será engordada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’âme du paresseux désire, et il n’y a rien; mais l’âme des diligents sera engraissée.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Seele des Faulen begehrt, und nichts ist da; aber die Seele der Fleißigen wird reichlich gesättigt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vult et non vult piger; anima autem operantium impinguabitur.