Bible Strands
Proverbs 14:23
There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Solomon (or the wisdom tradition) addresses a general audience of young and old, the wise and the foolish, in the context of practical wisdom for daily life. No specific occasion is marked.
The words — עֶצֶב (ʿeṣev) means "hard labor" or "toilsome work," not merely activity; it carries the sense of effort that costs something. The contrast with דְּבַר שִׂפָתַיִם (dĕvar sĕp̄āṯāyim), "word of lips," sharpens the point: talk is cheap, labor is costly.
The thread — Proverbs 28:19 pairs working the land with plenty against chasing fantasies with poverty; Proverbs 12:24 links diligence to rule and laziness to forced labor; 2 Thessalonians 3:10 makes the same demand in apostolic terms.
Why it lands — It does not soften the choice: either you do the work or you starve, and the verse names the middle path of talk as the one that leads to poverty. It asks a reader to stop talking and start doing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 28:19 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
- Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
- Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Ecclesiastes 5:3 As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- John 6:27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
- 1 Timothy 5:13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
- Proverbs 10:10 He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.