Proverbs 13:4 nasb — The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

NASB

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat."

— Proverbs 13:4, NASB

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Proverbs 13:4 in Other Translations

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Proverbs 13 — Context

1

A wise son accepts his father's discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2

From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

3

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

5

A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.

6

Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness subverts the sinner.

7

There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

Proverbs 13:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Proverbs 13:4 say?
Proverbs 13:4 in the NASB reads: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.”
Where is Proverbs 13:4 in the Bible?
Proverbs 13:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Proverbs, chapter 13, verse 4.
Who wrote Proverbs?
Proverbs is traditionally attributed to Solomon (primarily), with sections by Agur and Lemuel. It was written c. 970–700 BC.
What is the book of Proverbs about?
Proverbs is practical wisdom for everyday life — short, vivid sayings on speech, work, money, friendship, sex, parenting, and the fear of the LORD. It teaches that wisdom is not mere cleverness but a way of walking with God in a complicated world.
What are the major themes of Proverbs?
Proverbs explores themes including Wisdom, Folly, Fear of the LORD, Discipline, Speech, Diligence. These themes shape the meaning and context of Proverbs 13:4.
What translation should I read Proverbs 13:4 in?
Proverbs 13:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Proverbs 13:4?
Proverbs 13:4 reads (NASB): “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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