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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:23

Note, 1. Working, without talking, will make men rich: In all labour of the head, or of the hand, there is profit; it will turn to some good account or other. Industrious people are generally thriving people, and where there is something done there is something to be had. The stirring hand gets a penny. It is good th 40cb erefore to keep in business, and to keep in action, and what our hand finds to do to do it with all our might. 2. Talking, without working, will make men poor. Those that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:23

In all labour there is profit ,.... Or "abundance" F21 מותר "abundantia", Tigurine version, Baynus, Mercerus, Gejerus. ; much is got by it, food, raiment, riches, wealth, wisdom, honour; either with the labour of the hands or head, and nothing is to be got without labour; and he that is laborious in his calling, whether it be by manual operation, working with his hands that which is good; or by hard study, much reading, and constant meditation, is like to gain much for his own use... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:23

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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:20-27

Causes and effects To grasp this principle—there is nothing causeless and unaccountable in life—and to apply it is one of the main principles of wisdom. Let us note some of its applications— I. TO SOCIAL RELATIONS . 1 . Poverty an object of dislike, and riches magnetic of good will. ( Proverbs 14:20 .) Widespread parallels may be found in ancient literature to this saying. Its truth is equally obvious today. It is a truth of human nature, and has its bad and its good... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:23

In all labour there is profit. All honest industry has a reward, and all care and pain borne for a good object bring comfort and content (comp. Proverbs 10:22 ). So the Greek distich says— ἅπαντα τὰ καλὰ τοῦ πονοῦντος γίγνεται "To him who labours all fair things belong." In contrast to the diligent are those who talk much and do nothing. But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury ( Proverbs 21:5 ). Those who work much get profit; those who talk much and do little come... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:23

Talking and toiling These words contain solid and valuable truth; that truth does not, however, exclude the facts— I. THAT MUCH LABOUR IS WORSE THEN USELESS . All that which is conceived and carried out for the purpose of destruction, or of fraud, or of vice, or of impiety. Only too often men give themselves infinite trouble which is worse than thrown away, the putting forth of which is sin, the end of which is evil—misery or even ruin and death. II. THAT MUCH ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 14:23

Proverbs 14:23. In all labour there is profit, &c. Diligent labour is the ready way to riches; but idle talking, wherein too many spend most of their precious time, will bring a man to poverty. Houbigant renders the verse, All labour will produce abundance, but garrulity nothing but want. “Solomon here,” says Lord Bacon, as quoted by Bishop Patrick, “separates the fruit of the labour of the tongue, and of the labour of the hands; as if want was the revenue of the one, and wealth... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-35

Hidden feelings and motives (14:1-35)Wisdom builds, but folly destroys. People’s actions reveal their attitude to God (14:1-2). The wisdom of their speech and their commitment to hard work are among the things that determine whether they progress or come to ruin (3-5). Those who think they know everything can never become truly wise and therefore can never have right discernment in the moral issues of life (6-8).Good people may prosper and evil people may suffer loss, but outward appearances do... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 14:23

"In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."This proverb contrasts the talker with the worker. A recent rendition of the second clause is, "Mere talk leads only to poverty."[27] read more

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