Proverbs 21:26

26 {All day} he craves a craving, but the righteous will give and not hold back.

Proverbs 21:26 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:26

He coveteth greedily all the day long
The slothful man does, as he has nothing to do to employ his time and his thoughts with; he is always craving something to eat and drink, or wishing he had such an estate, or so much wealth and riches, that he might live as such and such persons do; and this is what his head runs upon all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not;
not gives to the slothful, which does not restrain his desire, as Aben Ezra interprets it; but to the poor and necessitous, to proper objects; a good man will work with his hands, that he may have a sufficiency for himself and his family, and may have something to give to others that are in want; and "he spares not", or withholds not his hands, neither from working nor from giving.

Proverbs 21:26 In-Context

24 The proud, haughty one: "scoffer" [is] his name; he acts with arrogance of pride.
25 The craving of a lazy person will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 {All day} he craves a craving, but the righteous will give and not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination; how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!
28 A false witness will perish, but a man who listens will testify with success.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "All the day"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.