Proverbs 14:23 (BSB)

There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

From Proverbs 14. Also in the ESV.

Commentary on Proverbs 14:23

• Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Proverbs 14:23: Note, 1. Working, without talking, will make men rich: In all labour of the head, or of the hand, there is profit; it will turn to some good account or other. Industrious people are generally thriving people, and where there is something done there is something to be had. The stirring hand gets a penny.
• John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Proverbs 14:23: In all labour there is profit,.... Or "abundance" (u); much is got by it, food, raiment, riches, wealth, wisdom, honour; either with the labour of the hands or head, and nothing is to be got without labour; and he that is laborious in his calling, whether it be by manual operation, working with his hands that which is good; or by hard study, much reading...
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Proverbs 14:23: labour--painful diligence. talk . . . penury--idle and vain promises and plans.
• Keil & Delitzsch (Lutheran), Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament on Proverbs 14:23: Pro 14:23 There now follows a considerable series of proverbs (Pro 14:23-31) which, with a single exception (Pro 14:24), have all this in common, that one or two key-words in them begin with מ. 23 In all labour there is gain, But idle talk leadeth only to loss. Here the key-words are מותר and מחסור (parallel Pro 21:5, cf. with Pro 11:24), which begin with מ.