All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
Parallel translations
- WEB There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
- KJV He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
- ESV All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
- NKJV He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare.
- NASB All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.
- NLT Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The greedy crave more all day, but the righteous give generously. It matters because it contrasts selfish covetousness with godly generosity.
Overview
Where the wicked are consumed by greed, the righteous freely give without holding back (Proverbs 11:24-25; Psalm 37:21). The verse contrasts grasping covetousness with open-handed generosity. Such giving reflects the character of God, who gives liberally, supremely in the gift of his Son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 37:26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
- Ps 112:9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
- Acts 20:33–35I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
- Eph 4:28He 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.
- 1 Th 2:5–9As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
- Matt 5:42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
- 2 Cor 8:7–9But 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.
- Luke 6:30–36Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
- 2 Cor 9:9–14As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 21:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.