Proverbs 23 · Verse 4

Proverbs 23:4

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Proverbs 23:4, King James Version

Proverbs 23:4 in other translations

BSBDo not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
WEBDon’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
ASVWeary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
YLTLabour not to make wealth, From thine own understanding cease, Dost thou cause thine eyes to fly upon it? Then it is not.
DARBYWeary not thyself to become rich; cease from thine own intelligence:
BBETake no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your desire for money.
WebsterLabor not to be rich: cease from thy own wisdom.

What does Proverbs 23:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 23:4-5
4-5. (Compare 1Ti 6:9, 10). thine own wisdom--which regards riches intrinsically as a blessing.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Labour not to be rich - Let not this be thy object. Labour to provide things honest in the sight of God and all men; and if thou get wealth, do not forget the poor, else God's curse will be a canker even in thy gold. Cease from thine own wisdom - בינתך binathecha, thy own understanding or prudence. The world says, "Get rich if thou canst, and how thou canst." Rem, si possis, recte; si non, quocunque modo rem; "Get a fortune honestly if thou canst; but if not, get one at all events." This is the devil's counsel, and well it is followed; but Solomon says, and God says, "Cease from thine own counsel." Thou hast an immortal soul, and shalt shortly appear before God. Lay up treasure for heaven, and be rich towards God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 23:4-5
Be not of those that will be rich. The things of this world are not happiness and a portion for a soul; those that hold them ever so fast, cannot hold them always, cannot hold them long.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 23:4 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.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּיגַ֥עti.Ga'you laborH3021
לְֽהַעֲשִׁ֑ירle.ha.'a.Shirto gain richesH6238
מִֽבִּינָתְךָ֥mi.bi.na.te.Khafrom understanding yourH998
חֲדָֽל\׃cha.DalceaseH2308

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

Cross references for Proverbs 23:4

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Proverbs 28:20

    A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

  • 1 Timothy 6:8-10

    And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • Matthew 6:19

    Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

  • Proverbs 3:5

    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 15:27

    He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

  • Romans 12:16

    Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

  • Isaiah 5:21

    Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

  • Proverbs 26:12

    Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

  • Proverbs 3:7

    Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

  • Romans 11:25

    For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Labour.
28:20; Joh 6:27; 1Ti 6:8-10
cease.
3:5; 26:12; Isa 5:21; Ro 11:25; 12:16

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

Context

  • Proverbs 23:3

    Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

  • Proverbs 23:4

    Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

  • Proverbs 23:5

    Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Read all of Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No trabajes por ser rico; pon coto á tu prudencia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne te fatigue pas pour acquérir des richesses, finis-en avec ta prudence.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Bemühe dich nicht, reich zu werden, laß ab von deiner Klugheit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Noli laborare ut diteris, sed prudentiæ tuæ pone modum.