Work

Work is part of the creation account and is addressed throughout Scripture. This page lists verses on work in creation, working as for the Lord, diligence, providing for oneself and others, fair treatment of workers, and enjoying one's work.

Work in creation

• Genesis 2:15
  And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
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• Genesis 3:17-19
  ¹⁷And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ¹⁸Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ¹⁹In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
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• Exodus 20:9
  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
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Working as for the Lord

• Colossians 3:23-24
  ²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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• 1 Corinthians 10:31
  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
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• Ephesians 6:5-8
  ⁵Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; ⁶Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: ⁸Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 6 →

Diligence

• Proverbs 14:23
  In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
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• Proverbs 12:24
  The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
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• Proverbs 22:29
  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 22 →
• Ecclesiastes 9:10
  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
  Show context · Read Ecclesiastes 9 →

Providing for oneself and others

• 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
  ¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. ¹¹For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. ¹²Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
  Show context · Read 2 Thessalonians 3 →
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
  ¹¹And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; ¹²That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
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• 1 Timothy 5:8
  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
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• Ephesians 4:28
  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
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Fair treatment of workers

• Leviticus 19:13
  Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
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• Deuteronomy 24:14-15
  ¹⁴Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: ¹⁵At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.
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• James 5:4
  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
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• Colossians 4:1
  Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
  Show context · Read Colossians 4 →

Enjoying one's work

• Ecclesiastes 2:24
  There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
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• Ecclesiastes 3:13
  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
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• Psalm 128:2
  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
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See also

• Rest
• Laziness
• Sabbath
• Money

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.