Proverbs 10:16
New International Version
The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

New Living Translation
The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.

English Standard Version
The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.

Berean Standard Bible
The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.

King James Bible
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

New King James Version
The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.

New American Standard Bible
The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

NASB 1995
The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

NASB 1977
The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

Legacy Standard Bible
The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

Amplified Bible
The wages of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God] is [a worthwhile, meaningful] life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

Christian Standard Bible
The reward of the righteous is life; the wages of the wicked is punishment.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The labor of the righteous leads to life; the activity of the wicked leads to sin.

American Standard Version
The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin.

Contemporary English Version
If you live right, the reward is a good life; if you are evil, all you have is sin.

English Revised Version
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life; the increase of the wicked to sin.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A righteous person's reward is life. A wicked person's harvest is sin.

Good News Translation
The reward for doing good is life, but sin leads only to more sin.

International Standard Version
Honorable wages lead to life; the salaries of the wicked, to retribution.

Majority Standard Bible
The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.

NET Bible
The reward which the righteous receive is life; the recompense which the wicked receive is judgment.

New Heart English Bible
The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

Webster's Bible Translation
The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

World English Bible
The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The wage of the righteous [is] for life, "" The increase of the wicked for sin.

Young's Literal Translation
The wage of the righteous is for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.

Smith's Literal Translation
The labors of the just one, to life: the increase of the unjust to sin.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked, unto sin.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The work of the just is unto life. But the fruit of the impious is unto sin.

New American Bible
The labor of the just leads to life, the gains of the wicked, to futility.

New Revised Standard Version
The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The labor of the righteous tends to life; the harvest of the wicked to sin.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The work of the Righteous One is for life and the fruits of the Evil One are for sin.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The wages of the righteous is life; The increase of the wicked is sin.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly produce sins.
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son
15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. 16The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment. 17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.…

Cross References
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Matthew 7:17-18
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

James 1:15
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Romans 8:6
The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,

John 5:29
and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

1 John 3:7-8
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. / The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

Ephesians 5:11
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Philippians 1:11
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Isaiah 3:10-11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. / Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Psalm 1:3-4
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. / Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Isaiah 59:18
So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands.


Treasury of Scripture

The labor of the righteous tends to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

labour

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Isaiah 3:10,11
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings…

the fruit

Matthew 7:17,18
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit…

Matthew 12:33,34
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit…

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Jump to Previous
Cause Evil-Doer Fruit Gain Gives Income Increase Labor Labour Punishment Revenue Righteous Sin Tendeth Upright Wage Wages Wicked Work
Jump to Next
Cause Evil-Doer Fruit Gain Gives Income Increase Labor Labour Punishment Revenue Righteous Sin Tendeth Upright Wage Wages Wicked Work
Proverbs 10
1. Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices














The labor of the righteous
The Hebrew word for "labor" here is "פְּעֻלָּה" (pe'ullah), which signifies work, wages, or reward. In the context of Proverbs, it emphasizes the diligent and purposeful efforts of those who live according to God's standards. The "righteous" are those who align their lives with God's will, seeking to live in a way that reflects His character. Historically, the righteous in Israel were those who adhered to the Law and sought justice, mercy, and humility before God. Their labor is not just physical toil but encompasses all efforts to live rightly, which God promises to reward.

leads to life
The Hebrew word for "leads" is "חַיִּים" (chayim), which means life, living, or alive. In the biblical context, "life" is not merely physical existence but a quality of life that includes spiritual vitality and eternal significance. The righteous person's labor leads to life because it aligns with God's purposes, resulting in blessings both in this life and the life to come. This reflects the biblical principle that obedience to God brings life, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19-20, where choosing life is equated with loving and obeying God.

the gain of the wicked
The term "gain" is translated from the Hebrew "תְּבוּאָה" (tevuah), meaning produce, income, or profit. This word suggests the results or fruits of one's actions. The "wicked" are those who live in opposition to God's ways, often characterized by selfishness, deceit, and injustice. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the wicked were those who exploited others and disregarded God's commands. Their gain, though it may appear prosperous, is ultimately hollow and fleeting.

brings punishment
The Hebrew word for "punishment" is "חַטָּאָה" (chatta'ah), which can mean sin, guilt, or punishment. This word underscores the inevitable consequences of living contrary to God's will. The gain of the wicked leads to punishment because it is rooted in sin and rebellion against God. Biblically, sin carries its own penalty, as seen in Romans 6:23, where the wages of sin is death. The punishment here is both temporal, in the form of life's hardships and divine judgment, and eternal, as separation from God.

(16) The labour of the righteous tendeth to life.--For the gains of his honest toil have the blessing of God upon them, and so bring him satisfaction of mind and the power of performing his duties in life; whereas all that the wicked man acquires only helps him to sin yet more, by enabling him to indulge his evil passions.

Verse 16. - Tendeth to life (Proverbs 11:19). Honest labour brings its own reward in the blessing of God and a long and peaceful life. The fruit of the wicked. All the profit that the wicked make they use in the service of sin, which tends only to death (Romans 6:21). The due reward of honourable industry is contrasted with the gains obtained by any means, discreditable or not.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The labor
פְּעֻלַּ֣ת (pə·‘ul·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6468: A work, recompense

of the righteous
צַדִּ֣יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

leads to life,
לְחַיִּ֑ים (lə·ḥay·yîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

[but] the gain
תְּבוּאַ֖ת (tə·ḇū·’aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8393: Product, revenue

of the wicked
רָשָׁ֣ע (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

[brings] punishment.
לְחַטָּֽאת׃ (lə·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 10:16 The labor of the righteous leads (Prov. Pro Pr)
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