100 Bible Verses about Labour In Vain

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 54 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.

Psalm 127:1 ESV / 44 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.

Galatians 4:11 ESV / 27 helpful votes

I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Psalm 127:2 ESV / 25 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.

Psalm 127:1-5 ESV / 22 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. 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. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128:2 ESV / 21 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 19 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.

Matthew 25:1-13 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ...

Philippians 1:6 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Job 11:11 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?

Job 9:29 ESV / 11 helpful votes

I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?

John 3:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 10 helpful votes

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

Psalm 73:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

Deuteronomy 5:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Romans 1:21 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Isaiah 1:13 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

Psalm 26:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.

Psalm 127:5 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

1 Samuel 30:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

1 Peter 1:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

Isaiah 65:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them.

2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

Deuteronomy 20:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And is there any man who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit.

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

Psalm 60:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!

Hebrews 6:10 ESV / 5 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.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:30 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Acts 20:35 ESV / 5 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 16:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 12:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Psalm 139:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.

Psalm 37:25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

Leviticus 26:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.

1 Peter 1:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

1 Corinthians 3:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

Luke 13:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

Luke 10:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Proverbs 13:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Psalm 55:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

1 Samuel 30:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

Leviticus 26:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Exodus 14:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” ...

Genesis 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

Revelation 12:7-11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 Peter 3:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

James 5:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

1 Timothy 5:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

1 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

As we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

1 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 3 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.

Philippians 4:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

Philippians 2:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Philippians 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

Acts 7:38 ESV / 3 helpful votes

This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.

Acts 2:1-47 ESV / 3 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

John 6:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Matthew 10:1-42 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, ...

Matthew 8:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

Matthew 8:5-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ...

Malachi 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

Isaiah 55:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Isaiah 49:4 ESV / 3 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.”

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV / 3 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.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Psalm 108:12-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 20:6-7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

1 Samuel 25:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good.

Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

Deuteronomy 23:12-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“You shall have a place outside the camp, and you shall go out to it. And you shall have a trowel with your tools, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement.

Deuteronomy 20:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people.

Deuteronomy 20:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And is there any man who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.’

Numbers 1:2-4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers.

Exodus 20:1-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

Genesis 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

2 Peter 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 1:4-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 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. ...

1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

2 Thessalonians 3:8 ESV / 2 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.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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. 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. ...

1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 2 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.

Colossians 2:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 1:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Galatians 2:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

1 Corinthians 16:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

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