KJV ORIGINAL
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
In all hard work there is gain, but empty talk only leads to poverty.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is teaching that actual work produces results, while just talking about doing something leads to nothing.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from Solomon's collection of wisdom sayings, written during Israel's golden age around 950 BC. In ancient Israel's agricultural society, hard physical labor was essential for survival and prosperity. The contrast between productive work and empty words would have been especially meaningful to people whose daily bread depended on their hands-on efforts.
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