Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
- KJV Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
- NKJV Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!
- NASB ¶Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; Stop dwelling on it.
- NLT Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.
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
Do not exhaust yourself striving to get rich; show wise restraint.
Overview
Proverbs commends diligent work but warns against the anxious, all-consuming pursuit of wealth. True wisdom restrains the craving for riches, recognizing its emptiness and danger. Jesus warned plainly that one cannot serve both God and money, and that life does not consist in abundance of possessions (Matt. 6:24; Luke 12:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Heb 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Prov 28:20A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
- 1 Tim 6:8–10But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
- Matt 6:19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- Prov 3:5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
- Prov 15:27He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
- Rom 12:16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Isa 5:21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
- Prov 26:12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Prov 3:7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
- Rom 11:25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
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 23:4 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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