17 Bible Verses about Physical Labour

The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return."

"'Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy assembly. You must not do any work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in all the places where you live.

Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.

to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.

Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.

What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile -- like chasing the wind!

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless -- like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task!

This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!

Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations' efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing.

Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life -- the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him."