A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
- KJV He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
- NKJV He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
- NASB An arrogant person stirs up strife, But one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
- NLT Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.
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
Greed breeds conflict, but trusting in the Lord leads to prosperity. It contrasts the strife of covetousness with the blessing of faith.
Overview
The greedy, grasping person stirs up strife, whereas the one who trusts Yahweh is made to flourish. The verse links contentment and faith to genuine prosperity, and greed to division. This anticipates the gospel call to seek first God's kingdom and trust the Father's provision rather than grasping anxiously for more (Matthew 6:33).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 11:25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
- 1 Tim 6:6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Prov 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- Prov 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Prov 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- Prov 29:22An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Ps 84:12O LORD of Hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!
- Prov 21:24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
- Prov 29:25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
- Prov 22:10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
- Prov 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- Isa 58:11The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
- Jer 17:7–8But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Prov 15:30The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.
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 28:25 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.