What Does the Bible Say About Hard Work?

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 303 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 239 helpful votes

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

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV / 192 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.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 132 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 110 helpful votes

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

Philippians 2:14-15 ESV / 99 helpful votes

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Colossians 3:24 ESV / 75 helpful votes

Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Ephesians 6:7 ESV / 65 helpful votes

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 59 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV / 53 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.

Proverbs 12:24 ESV / 52 helpful votes

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

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV / 51 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 47 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.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 43 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.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 37 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.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 34 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.

Proverbs 6:10-12 ESV / 31 helpful votes

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. A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,

Luke 1:37 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 4:16-18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Genesis 2:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

Philippians 1:13-14 ESV / 9 helpful votes

So that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Proverbs 4:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.

Psalm 127:1 ESV / 6 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.

Exodus 18:1-27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. ...

24 Bible Verses about Hard Work