Proverbs 14 · Verse 23

Proverbs 14:23

In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Proverbs 14:23, King James Version

Proverbs 14:23 in other translations

BSBThere is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
WEBIn all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
ASVIn all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
YLTIn all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips is only to want.
DARBYIn all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to want.
BBEIn all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.
WebsterIn all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

What does Proverbs 14:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. labour--painful diligence. talk ... penury--idle and vain promises and plans.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 In all labor there is profit - If a man work at his trade, he gains by it; if he cultivate the earth, it will yield an increase; and in proportion as he labors, so will be his profit: but he who talks much labors little. And a man words is seldom a man of deeds. Less talk and more work, is one of our own ancient advices.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:23 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.

בְּכָל\־be.kholin allH3605
עֶ֭צֶב'E.tzevhard laborH6089
יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehit isH1961
מוֹתָ֑רmo.TarprofitH4195
וּדְבַר\־u.de.va.rS-and word ofH1697
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםSe.fa.Ta.yimlipsH8193
אַךְ\־'akh-onlyH389
לְמַחְסֽוֹר\׃le.mach.Sorto povertyH4270

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

Cross references for Proverbs 14:23

  • Proverbs 28:19

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

  • 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. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

  • Proverbs 12:24

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

  • Hebrews 6:10-11

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

  • Ecclesiastes 5:3

    For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

  • 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.

  • 1 Timothy 5:13

    And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

  • Proverbs 10:10

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
all.
12:24; 28:19; Joh 6:27; Heb 6:10,11
but.
10:10; Ec 5:3; 2Th 3:10-12; 1Ti 5:13

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

Context

  • Proverbs 14:22

    Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

  • Proverbs 14:23

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

  • Proverbs 14:24

    The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En toda labor hay fruto: mas la palabra de los labios solamente empobrece.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		En tout travail il y a profit, mais la parole des lèvres ne mène qu’à la disette.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Bei jeder Mühe wird Gewinn sein, aber Lippengerede gereicht nur zum Mangel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In omni opere erit abundantia; ubi autem verba sunt plurima, ibi frequenter egestas.