Bible Strands
Proverbs 21:26
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text addresses a general audience through wisdom instruction, placed between a warning about a slacker's fatal craving and a condemnation of a wicked person's insincere sacrifice. It presents a direct contrast between two lifelong behavioral patterns.
The words — The Hebrew hit'ava (he craves) and yachsoch (he keeps back) establish the structural opposition of the verse. These verbs describe relentless accumulation on one side and withheld generosity on the other.
The thread — The text's pattern of unrestrained giving aligns with Psalms 37:26 and Psalms 112:9, which describe the righteous as ever generous and quick to scatter gifts. The warning against covetousness appears in Acts 20:33, where Paul explicitly denies coveting anyone's silver, gold, or clothing.
Why it lands — The text reports daily covetousness and contrasts it with the righteous person's unrestrained giving. It requires the reader to identify their own daily accumulation habits and replace them with deliberate, unhindered generosity.
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
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Cross-references
- Psalms 37:26 They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
- Psalms 112:9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
- Acts 20:33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
- Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
- Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
- 2 Corinthians 9:9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”