He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Parallel translations
- WEB There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
- BSB All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
- 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 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 37:26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
- Ps 112:9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
- Acts 20:33–35I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
- Eph 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
- 1 Th 2:5–9For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
- Matt 5:42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
- 2 Cor 8:7–9Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
- Luke 6:30–36Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
- 2 Cor 9:9–14(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
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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
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