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100 Bible Verses about Work Ethic

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 1,431 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 971 helpful votes

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 938 helpful votes

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 917 helpful votes

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 773 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Proverbs 10:4 ESV / 733 helpful votes

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 706 helpful votes

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Proverbs 12:11 ESV / 662 helpful votes

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 529 helpful votes

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 507 helpful votes

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Genesis 2:15 ESV / 498 helpful votes

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 489 helpful votes

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Proverbs 22:29 ESV / 467 helpful votes

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 452 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Psalm 128:2 ESV / 424 helpful votes

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 397 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 370 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 340 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 21:25 ESV / 335 helpful votes

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 ESV / 319 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

Proverbs 11:1 ESV / 317 helpful votes

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.

Hebrews 6:10 ESV / 312 helpful votes

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 310 helpful votes

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 90:17 ESV / 291 helpful votes

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV / 283 helpful votes

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 272 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 269 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Genesis 3:17-19 ESV / 258 helpful votes

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Proverbs 12:24 ESV / 250 helpful votes

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 236 helpful votes

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 5:17 ESV / 236 helpful votes

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV / 224 helpful votes

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 202 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Proverbs 20:13 ESV / 197 helpful votes

Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

Proverbs 20:4 ESV / 197 helpful votes

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 185 helpful votes

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Luke 6:31 ESV / 179 helpful votes

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 ESV / 179 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

Proverbs 6:6-11 ESV / 178 helpful votes

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ...

Luke 1:37 ESV / 171 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Proverbs 28:19 ESV / 171 helpful votes

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

1 Timothy 5:18 ESV / 167 helpful votes

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

Luke 16:10 ESV / 167 helpful votes

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 166 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 165 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 ESV / 163 helpful votes

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 ESV / 162 helpful votes

Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

Proverbs 18:9 ESV / 161 helpful votes

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 160 helpful votes

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

2 Thessalonians 3:8 ESV / 159 helpful votes

Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

1 Corinthians 4:12 ESV / 159 helpful votes

And we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

Deuteronomy 24:14 ESV / 157 helpful votes

“You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.

2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV / 154 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12 ESV / 148 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Ecclesiastes 3:22 ESV / 146 helpful votes

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV / 139 helpful votes

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 138 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV / 138 helpful votes

You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV / 137 helpful votes

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 6:7-9 ESV / 137 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 137 helpful votes

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. ...

Proverbs 6:6 ESV / 135 helpful votes

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 134 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 127:1 ESV / 133 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 130 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

John 3:16 ESV / 126 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV / 125 helpful votes

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Ephesians 6:7-8 ESV / 125 helpful votes

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Genesis 2:1-25 ESV / 122 helpful votes

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, ...

Deuteronomy 15:10 ESV / 120 helpful votes

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Psalm 127:2 ESV / 119 helpful votes

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

James 1:4 ESV / 118 helpful votes

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Hebrews 4:10 ESV / 118 helpful votes

For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 117 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / 117 helpful votes

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Proverbs 11:3 ESV / 117 helpful votes

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Colossians 3:22 ESV / 116 helpful votes

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Isaiah 49:4 ESV / 114 helpful votes

But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.”

Hosea 14:9 ESV / 113 helpful votes

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Exodus 20:9-10 ESV / 112 helpful votes

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

Proverbs 16:1 ESV / 110 helpful votes

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 21:5 ESV / 109 helpful votes

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

1 Thessalonians 5:7 ESV / 108 helpful votes

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV / 108 helpful votes

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 104 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 ESV / 102 helpful votes

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

2 Peter 3:14 ESV / 100 helpful votes

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV / 99 helpful votes

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ...

Isaiah 64:8 ESV / 97 helpful votes

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 ESV / 96 helpful votes

If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Leviticus 23:22 ESV / 96 helpful votes

“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

Proverbs 13:11 ESV / 92 helpful votes

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Genesis 1:31 ESV / 92 helpful votes

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Romans 12:13 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Mark 2:27 ESV / 88 helpful votes

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 87 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV / 87 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 87 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV / 86 helpful votes

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Romans 12:11 ESV / 84 helpful votes

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

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