Proverbs 14:23

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Proverbs.14.23", "source": "בְּכָל־עֶ֭צֶב יִהְיֶ֣ה מוֹתָ֑ר וּדְבַר־שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃", "text": "In *kāl-ʿeṣeb* *yihyeh* *môtār* and *dəbar-śəpātayim* only to *maḥsôr*", "grammar": { "*kāl-ʿeṣeb*": "masculine singular adjective + masculine singular noun - all labor", "*yihyeh*": "3rd person masculine singular Qal imperfect - there will be", "*môtār*": "masculine singular noun - profit", "*dəbar-śəpātayim*": "masculine singular construct + feminine dual noun - word of lips", "*maḥsôr*": "masculine singular noun - lack/need" }, "variants": { "*ʿeṣeb*": "labor/toil/pain", "*yihyeh*": "will be/shall be/exists", "*môtār*": "profit/gain/advantage", "*dəbar-śəpātayim*": "word of lips/mere talk/empty words", "*maḥsôr*": "lack/need/poverty" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בְּכָל־עֶ֭צֶב יִהְיֶ֣ה מוֹתָ֑ר וּדְבַר־שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

Transliteration

In kāl-ʿeṣeb yihyeh môtār and dəbar-śəpātayim only to maḥsôr

Grammar Details

• *kāl-ʿeṣeb*: masculine singular adjective + masculine singular noun - all labor
• *yihyeh*: 3rd person masculine singular Qal imperfect - there will be
• *môtār*: masculine singular noun - profit
• *dəbar-śəpātayim*: masculine singular construct + feminine dual noun - word of lips
• *maḥsôr*: masculine singular noun - lack/need

Word Meanings

• *ʿeṣeb*: labor/toil/pain
• *yihyeh*: will be/shall be/exists
• *môtār*: profit/gain/advantage
• *dəbar-śəpātayim*: word of lips/mere talk/empty words
• *maḥsôr*: lack/need/poverty

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  In all hard work there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

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

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

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

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Diliget labor bryngeth riches, but where many vayne wordes are, truly there is scarcenesse.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  In all labour there is abundance: but the talke of the lippes bringeth onely want.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  In euery labour there is some profite: but vayne wordes bryng foorth onely penurie.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  In all hard work there is profit, But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips `is' only to want.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips `tendeth' only to penury.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.

• World English Bible (2000)

  In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty.

Referenced Verses

• Prov 12:24 : 24 { "verseID": "Proverbs.12.24", "source": "יַד־חָרוּצִ֥ים תִּמְשׁ֑וֹל ו֝רְמִיָּ֗ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לָמַֽס׃", "text": "*yaḏ*-*ḥărûṣîm* *timšôl* *ûrəmiyyāh* *tihyeh* *lāmas*", "grammar": { "*yaḏ*": "noun, feminine singular construct - hand of", "*ḥărûṣîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - diligent ones", "*timšôl*": "verb, qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - will rule", "*ûrəmiyyāh*": "conjunction + noun, feminine singular - and slothfulness/deceit", "*tihyeh*": "verb, qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - will become", "*lāmas*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular - to forced labor/tribute" }, "variants": { "*yāḏ*": "hand/power/control", "*ḥărûṣîm*": "diligent ones/industrious ones", "*timšôl*": "will rule/will have dominion/will govern", "*rəmiyyāh*": "slothfulness/deceit/laziness/laxness", "*tihyeh*": "will become/will be", "*mas*": "forced labor/tribute/task/service" } }
• Prov 28:19 : 19 { "verseID": "Proverbs.28.19", "source": "עֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֥ף רֵ֝קִ֗ים יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־רִֽישׁ׃", "text": "*'ōḇēḏ* *'aḏmāṯô* *yiśba'*-*lāḥem* *ûməradēp̄* *rēqîm* *yiśba'*-*rîš*", "grammar": { "*'ōḇēḏ*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - working/tilling", "*'aḏmāṯô*": "noun, feminine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his land/ground", "*yiśba'*-*lāḥem*": "Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular + noun, masculine singular - will be satisfied with bread", "*ûməradēp̄*": "conjunction + Piel participle, masculine singular - but one pursuing", "*rēqîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - empty/worthless things", "*yiśba'*-*rîš*": "Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular + noun, masculine singular - will be filled with poverty" }, "variants": { "*'ōḇēḏ*": "working/tilling/cultivating", "*'aḏmāṯô*": "his land/his ground/his soil", "*yiśba'*": "will be satisfied/will be filled", "*lāḥem*": "bread/food", "*məradēp̄*": "pursuing/chasing after", "*rēqîm*": "empty things/worthless things/vain pursuits", "*rîš*": "poverty/need/lack" } }
• John 6:27 : 27 { "verseID": "John.6.27", "source": "Ἐργάζεσθε μὴ τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν ἀπολλυμένην, ἀλλὰ τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν μένουσαν εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον, ἣν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὑμῖν δώσει: τοῦτον γὰρ ὁ Πατὴρ ἐσφράγισεν ὁ Θεός.", "text": "*Ergazesthe* not for the *brōsin* the *apollymenēn*, but for the *brōsin* the *menousan* into *zōēn* *aiōnion*, which the *Hyios* of the *anthrōpou* to you *dōsei*: this one *gar* the *Patēr* *esphragisen* the *Theos*.", "grammar": { "*Ergazesthe*": "present, imperative, middle, 2nd plural - work/labor", "*brōsin*": "accusative, feminine, singular - food", "*apollymenēn*": "present, participle, middle, accusative, feminine, singular - perishing", "*menousan*": "present, participle, active, accusative, feminine, singular - remaining/enduring", "*zōēn*": "accusative, feminine, singular - life", "*aiōnion*": "accusative, feminine, singular - eternal/everlasting", "*Hyios*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Son", "*anthrōpou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - man/mankind", "*dōsei*": "future, indicative, active, 3rd singular - will give", "*gar*": "postpositive particle - for/because", "*Patēr*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Father", "*esphragisen*": "aorist, indicative, active, 3rd singular - sealed/certified", "*Theos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - God" }, "variants": { "*Ergazesthe*": "work/labor/strive", "*brōsin*": "food/nourishment/meat", "*apollymenēn*": "perishing/decaying/being destroyed", "*menousan*": "remaining/enduring/lasting", "*zōēn*": "life/existence", "*aiōnion*": "eternal/everlasting/age-lasting", "*Hyios*": "Son", "*anthrōpou*": "man/mankind/humanity", "*Patēr*": "Father", "*esphragisen*": "sealed/certified/authorized", "*Theos*": "God/deity" } }
• 2 Thess 3:10-12 : 10 { "verseID": "2 Thessalonians.3.10", "source": "Καὶ γὰρ ὅτε ἦμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, τοῦτο παρηγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν, ὅτι Εἴ τις οὐ θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι, μηδὲ ἐσθιέτω.", "text": "*Kai gar hote ēmen pros* you, this *parēngellomen* you, *hoti Ei tis ou thelei ergazesthai, mēde esthietō*.", "grammar": { "*Kai gar*": "conjunctive phrase - for also/for even", "*hote*": "temporal conjunction - when", "*ēmen*": "imperfect indicative, active, 1st plural - we were", "*pros*": "preposition + accusative - with", "*parēngellomen*": "imperfect indicative, active, 1st plural - we were commanding", "*hoti*": "conjunction introducing quotation - that", "*Ei*": "conditional conjunction - if", "*tis*": "nominative, indefinite pronoun - anyone", "*ou*": "negative particle - not", "*thelei*": "present indicative, active, 3rd singular - wants/wills", "*ergazesthai*": "present infinitive, middle - to work", "*mēde*": "negative conjunction - neither/nor/not even", "*esthietō*": "present imperative, active, 3rd singular - let him eat" }, "variants": { "*parēngellomen*": "we were commanding/we were instructing/we were charging", "*thelei*": "wants/wills/desires", "*ergazesthai*": "to work/to labor", "*esthietō*": "let him eat/he should eat" } } 11 { "verseID": "2 Thessalonians.3.11", "source": "Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους, ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.", "text": "*Akouomen gar tinas peripatountas en* you *ataktōs, mēden ergazomenous, alla periergazomenous*.", "grammar": { "*Akouomen*": "present indicative, active, 1st plural - we hear", "*gar*": "postpositive conjunction - for/because", "*tinas*": "accusative, indefinite pronoun - some", "*peripatountas*": "present participle, active, accusative, masculine, plural - walking/living", "*en*": "preposition + dative - among", "*ataktōs*": "adverb - disorderly/idly", "*mēden*": "accusative, neuter, singular, negative pronoun - nothing", "*ergazomenous*": "present participle, middle, accusative, masculine, plural - working", "*alla*": "contrastive conjunction - but", "*periergazomenous*": "present participle, middle, accusative, masculine, plural - being busybodies" }, "variants": { "*Akouomen*": "we hear/we are hearing", "*peripatountas*": "walking/living/conducting themselves", "*ataktōs*": "disorderly/idly/irresponsibly", "*ergazomenous*": "working/laboring", "*periergazomenous*": "being busybodies/meddling/interfering in others' affairs" } } 12 { "verseID": "2 Thessalonians.3.12", "source": "Τοῖς δὲ τοιούτοις παραγγέλλομεν καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστου, ἵνα μετὰ ἡσυχίας ἐργαζόμενοι, τὸν ἑαυτῶν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν.", "text": "*Tois de toioutois parangellomen kai parakaloumen dia tou Kyriou* our *Iēsou Christou, hina meta hēsychias ergazomenoi, ton heautōn arton esthiōsin*.", "grammar": { "*Tois toioutois*": "dative, masculine, plural, demonstrative - to such ones", "*de*": "postpositive conjunction - and/but/now", "*parangellomen*": "present indicative, active, 1st plural - we command", "*kai*": "conjunction - and", "*parakaloumen*": "present indicative, active, 1st plural - we exhort/urge", "*dia*": "preposition + genitive - through/by", "*tou Kyriou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - the Lord", "*Iēsou Christou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - Jesus Christ", "*hina*": "conjunction introducing purpose clause - that", "*meta*": "preposition + genitive - with", "*hēsychias*": "genitive, feminine, singular - quietness/peace", "*ergazomenoi*": "present participle, middle, nominative, masculine, plural - working", "*ton heautōn arton*": "accusative, masculine, singular - their own bread", "*esthiōsin*": "present subjunctive, active, 3rd plural - they may eat" }, "variants": { "*parangellomen*": "we command/we instruct/we charge", "*parakaloumen*": "we exhort/we urge/we encourage", "*hēsychias*": "quietness/peace/stillness/calmness", "*ergazomenoi*": "working/laboring", "*arton*": "bread/food/sustenance" } }
• Heb 6:10-11 : 10 { "verseID": "Hebrews.6.10", "source": "Οὐ γὰρ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς ἐπιλαθέσθαι τοῦ ἔργου ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης, ἧς ἐνεδείξασθε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, διακονήσαντες τοῖς ἁγίοις, καὶ διακονοῦντες.", "text": "Not *gar adikos* the *Theos epilathesthai tou ergou hymōn* and *tou kopou tēs agapēs*, which *enedeixasthe eis to onoma autou*, *diakonēsantes tois hagiois*, and *diakonountes*.", "grammar": { "*gar*": "conjunction - for/because", "*adikos*": "nominative singular masculine - unjust/unrighteous", "*Theos*": "nominative singular masculine - God", "*epilathesthai*": "aorist middle infinitive - to forget", "*tou ergou*": "genitive singular neuter - of the work", "*hymōn*": "genitive plural - of you", "*tou kopou*": "genitive singular masculine - of the labor", "*tēs agapēs*": "genitive singular feminine - of the love", "*enedeixasthe*": "aorist middle indicative, 2nd person plural - you showed/displayed", "*eis*": "preposition + accusative - toward/unto", "*to onoma*": "accusative singular neuter - the name", "*autou*": "genitive singular masculine - of him", "*diakonēsantes*": "aorist active participle, nominative plural masculine - having ministered/served", "*tois hagiois*": "dative plural masculine - to the saints", "*diakonountes*": "present active participle, nominative plural masculine - ministering/serving" }, "variants": { "*adikos*": "unjust/unrighteous", "*epilathesthai*": "to forget/to overlook", "*ergou*": "work/deed/labor", "*kopou*": "labor/toil/trouble", "*agapēs*": "love", "*enedeixasthe*": "you showed/displayed/demonstrated", "*diakonēsantes*": "having ministered/having served", "*hagiois*": "saints/holy ones", "*diakonountes*": "ministering/serving/continuing to serve" } } 11 { "verseID": "Hebrews.6.11", "source": "Ἐπιθυμοῦμεν δὲ ἕκαστον ὑμῶν τὴν αὐτὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι σπουδὴν πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἄχρι τέλους:", "text": "*Epithymoumen de hekaston hymōn tēn autēn endeiknysthai spoudēn pros tēn plērophorian tēs elpidos achri telous*:", "grammar": { "*Epithymoumen*": "present active indicative, 1st person plural - we desire", "*de*": "conjunction - but/and", "*hekaston*": "accusative singular masculine - each one", "*hymōn*": "genitive plural - of you", "*tēn autēn*": "accusative singular feminine - the same", "*endeiknysthai*": "present middle infinitive - to show/display", "*spoudēn*": "accusative singular feminine - diligence/earnestness", "*pros*": "preposition + accusative - toward", "*tēn plērophorian*": "accusative singular feminine - full assurance", "*tēs elpidos*": "genitive singular feminine - of the hope", "*achri*": "preposition + genitive - until", "*telous*": "genitive singular neuter - end" }, "variants": { "*Epithymoumen*": "we desire/we long for", "*hekaston*": "each one/every one", "*endeiknysthai*": "to show/to display/to demonstrate", "*spoudēn*": "diligence/earnestness/zeal", "*plērophorian*": "full assurance/complete certainty/fullness", "*elpidos*": "hope/expectation", "*achri*": "until/as far as", "*telous*": "end/completion/goal" } }
• 1 Tim 5:13 : 13 { "verseID": "1 Timothy.5.13", "source": "Ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσιν, περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀργαὶ, ἀλλὰ καὶ φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι, λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα.", "text": "*Hama* *de* *kai* *argai* *manthanousin*, *perierchomenai* *tas* *oikias*; *ou* *monon* *de* *argai*, *alla* *kai* *phluaroi* *kai* *periergoi*, *lalousai* *ta* *mē* *deonta*.", "grammar": { "*Hama*": "adverb - at the same time", "*de*": "postpositive conjunction - and/but", "*kai*": "adverbial - also", "*argai*": "nominative, feminine, plural - idle/lazy", "*manthanousin*": "present active indicative, 3rd person plural - they learn", "*perierchomenai*": "present middle participle, nominative, feminine, plural - going around/wandering about", "*tas*": "accusative, feminine, plural article - the", "*oikias*": "accusative, feminine, plural - houses", "*ou*": "negative particle - not", "*monon*": "adverb - only", "*de*": "postpositive conjunction - and/but", "*argai*": "nominative, feminine, plural - idle/lazy", "*alla*": "contrastive conjunction - but", "*kai*": "adverbial - also", "*phluaroi*": "nominative, feminine, plural - gossips/chatterers", "*kai*": "conjunction - and", "*periergoi*": "nominative, feminine, plural - busybodies/meddlers", "*lalousai*": "present active participle, nominative, feminine, plural - speaking", "*ta*": "accusative, neuter, plural article - the things", "*mē*": "negative particle - not", "*deonta*": "present active participle, accusative, neuter, plural - being proper/fitting" }, "variants": { "*argai*": "idle/lazy/unoccupied", "*manthanousin*": "they learn [as a habit]/they get into the habit", "*perierchomenai*": "going around/wandering about/making the rounds of", "*phluaroi*": "gossips/chatterers/babblers", "*periergoi*": "busybodies/meddlers/interfering in others' affairs", "*ta* *mē* *deonta*": "things not proper/inappropriate matters/what should not be said" } }
• Eccl 5:3 : 3 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.5.3", "source": "כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ תִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לֽ͏ֵאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין חֵ֖פֶץ בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּדֹּ֖ר שַׁלֵּֽם׃", "text": "When *tiddōr* *neḏer* to *lēʾlōhîm* *ʾal-təʾaḥēr* to *ləšalləmô* for no *ḥēp̄eṣ* in *bakəsîlîm* *ʾēt* which *tiddōr* *šallēm*", "grammar": { "*tiddōr*": "qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you vow", "*neḏer*": "noun, masculine singular - vow/promise", "*lēʾlōhîm*": "preposition + noun, masculine plural - to God", "*ʾal-təʾaḥēr*": "negative particle + piel imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - do not delay", "*ləšalləmô*": "preposition + piel infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - to fulfill/pay it", "*ḥēp̄eṣ*": "noun, masculine singular - pleasure/delight/desire", "*bakəsîlîm*": "preposition + definite article + noun, masculine plural - in the fools", "*ʾēt*": "direct object marker", "*šallēm*": "piel imperative, masculine singular - fulfill/pay" }, "variants": { "*neḏer*": "vow/pledge/promise", "*ləšalləmô*": "to fulfill/complete/pay it", "*ḥēp̄eṣ*": "pleasure/delight/desire/matter/business", "*kəsîlîm*": "fools/stupid persons", "*šallēm*": "fulfill/complete/pay/make good" } }
• Prov 10:10 : 10 { "verseID": "Proverbs.10.10", "source": "קֹ֣רֵֽץ עַ֭יִן יִתֵּ֣ן עַצָּ֑בֶת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃", "text": "*qōrēṣ* *ʿayin* *yittēn* *ʿaṣṣābet* *we-ʾĕwîl* *śəpātayim* *yillābēṭ*", "grammar": { "*qōrēṣ*": "Qal participle masculine singular - winking/blinking", "*ʿayin*": "feminine singular noun - eye", "*yittēn*": "Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - gives/causes", "*ʿaṣṣābet*": "feminine singular noun - pain/hurt", "*we-ʾĕwîl*": "conjunction + masculine singular adjective - and foolish", "*śəpātayim*": "feminine dual noun - lips/speech", "*yillābēṭ*": "Niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - is overthrown/stumbles" }, "variants": { "*qōrēṣ*": "winking/blinking/squinting", "*ʿayin*": "eye/sight/appearance", "*yittēn*": "gives/causes/produces", "*ʿaṣṣābet*": "pain/hurt/grief/trouble", "*ʾĕwîl*": "foolish/silly/senseless", "*śəpātayim*": "lips/speech/talk", "*yillābēṭ*": "is overthrown/stumbles/falls/comes to ruin" } }