Proverbs 28:19
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This verse doesn't just contrast hard work with laziness; it highlights how our company and imitations directly shape our outcomes. Choosing to follow "vain persons" isn't just about being idle; it's about aligning yourself with people whose pursuits are empty, leading to a life filled with poverty rather than provision.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb sits within a collection of wisdom literature contrasting the righteous and the wicked, or the wise and the foolish. It directly follows teachings on seeking God and the consequences of wickedness, and immediately precedes a warning against perverting justice and a call to seek justice. The verse itself contrasts the diligent farmer, whose honest labor brings abundance, with those who waste their time with idle companions, leading only to destitution.
The very ground you work can be a source of God's favor. Discover how diligence connects to divine provision.
This verse starts with a powerful image: the person who 'works his land' will have 'plenty of bread.' This isn't just about farming; it speaks to any honest, diligent work. The commentaries point out that this is a blessing, a turn from the curse of hard labor mentioned in Genesis. God intends for our faithful effort to yield fruit and sustenance. It’s a reminder that our daily tasks, when done with integrity, are part of God's provision for us.
What does it mean to follow 'worthless pursuits'? It’s more than just idleness – it’s a path that leads to destitution.
The contrast to diligent work is 'following worthless pursuits.' The commentaries explain this refers to associating with or imitating 'vain persons' – people who are idle, useless, and often wicked. This isn't just about laziness; it's about choosing the wrong influences and priorities. When we chase after things that have no lasting value, or spend our time with people who embody emptiness, we are actively choosing a path that leads to poverty, both spiritual and material.
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This passage describes the initial curse on the ground due to sin, making toil necessary for sustenance. Proverbs 28:19 shows how diligent work, even in a cursed world, brings a blessing of provision.
Proverbs 12:11This verse presents a very similar contrast between diligent labor yielding abundance and idleness leading to poverty, reinforcing the wisdom found in Proverbs 28:19.
Luke 12:16-21Jesus' parable of the rich fool highlights the folly of seeking wealth through accumulation rather than through diligent, God-honoring purpose, mirroring the 'worthless pursuits' that lead to poverty.
Colossians 3:23This verse calls believers to 'work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,' connecting diligence in one's earthly tasks directly to serving God, a principle that underlies the reward of 'plenty of bread' mentioned in Proverbs.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians directly addresses the danger of idleness and the importance of working diligently to support oneself and avoid being a burden, echoing the negative consequences of 'worthless pursuits' in Proverbs.
pooleProverbs 28:19: "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough."
That followeth after vain persons; choosing their company, and imitating their example; who gives up himself to vanity and idleness, and so is fitly opposed to the diligent man in the former clause.
clarkeProverbs 28:19: "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough."
He that tilleth his land - See Proverbs 12:11 .
This verse doesn't just contrast hard work with laziness; it highlights how our company and imitations directly shape our outcomes. Choosing to follow "vain persons" isn't just about being idle; it's about aligning yourself with people whose pursuits are empty, leading to a life filled with poverty rather than provision.
This proverb sits within a collection of wisdom literature contrasting the righteous and the wicked, or the wise and the foolish. It directly follows teachings on seeking God and the consequences of wickedness, and immediately precedes a warning against perverting justice and a call to seek justice. The verse itself contrasts the diligent farmer, whose honest labor brings abundance, with those who waste their time with idle companions, leading only to destitution.
This proverb sits within a collection of wisdom literature contrasting the righteous and the wicked, or the wise and the foolish. It directly follows teachings on seeking God and the consequences of wickedness, and immediately precedes a warning against perverting justice and a call to seek justice. The verse itself contrasts the diligent farmer, whose honest labor brings abundance, with those who waste their time with idle companions, leading only to destitution.
"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty." — This verse doesn't just contrast hard work with laziness; it highlights how our company and imitations directly shape our outcomes. Choosing to follow "vain persons" isn't just about being idle;…
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Last reviewed October 2026
