Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

King James Version

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Holman Bible

The fool folds his arms
and consumes his own flesh.

International Standard Version

The fool crosses his arms and starves himself.

American Standard Version

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Amplified

The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].

Bible in Basic English

The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

Darby Translation

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Julia Smith Translation

The foolish one folded his hands together, and ate his flesh.

King James 2000

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

Lexham Expanded Bible

{The fool refuses to work with his hands, so he has nothing to eat except his own skin}!

Modern King James verseion

The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth up his own flesh.

NET Bible

The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

New Heart English Bible

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

The Emphasized Bible

The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.

Webster

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

World English Bible

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

Youngs Literal Translation

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
כּסיל 
K@ciyl 
Usage: 70

חבק 
Chabaq 
Usage: 13

יד 
Yad 
Usage: 1612

חבק 
Chabaq 
Usage: 13

and eateth
אכל 
'akal 
Usage: 809

References

Hastings

Verse Info

Context Readings

People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor

4 I have learned why people work so hard to succeed. It is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is vanity! It is like chasing the wind. 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of quietness is better than two hands full of trouble and striving after wind.

Cross References

Isaiah 9:20

They slice off what is on the right hand, but they will still be hungry. In the end they will even eat the flesh of their own arms (offspring) (turn upon themselves).

Job 13:14

Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?

Proverbs 6:10-11

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.

Proverbs 11:17

The merciful man does himself good. The cruel man troubles his own flesh.

Proverbs 12:27

The lazy man does not cook what he took in hunting. The substance of a diligent man is precious.

Proverbs 13:4

The lazy man desires and has nothing. The diligent man will be made rich.

Proverbs 20:4

The lazy man will not plow because of the cold. He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 24:33-34

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain