Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Parallel translations
- WEB Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
- KJV Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
- NKJV Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
- NASB ¶Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure people.
- NLT Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
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
A person skilled and diligent in his work will rise to serve the great rather than the obscure.
Overview
Excellence and faithfulness in one's calling tend to bring advancement and honor. The proverb commends diligent craftsmanship as a path that gains the notice of those in authority. Scripture elevates this further, calling believers to work heartily "as for the Lord," knowing they ultimately serve Christ the King (Col. 3:23-24).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Kgs 11:28Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
- Matt 25:21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Prov 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- Matt 25:23His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Prov 10:4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Gen 41:46Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
- Rom 12:11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- 1 Kgs 10:8How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
- 2 Tim 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 22:29 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.