Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
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.
- BSB All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
- 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.
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 37:26All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
- Ps 112:9He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
- Acts 20:33–35I coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing.
- Eph 4:28Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
- 1 Th 2:5–9For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
- Matt 5:42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
- 2 Cor 8:7–9But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.
- Luke 6:30–36Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.
- 2 Cor 9:9–14As it is written, “He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains 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.