Bible Verses About Work

Christian work is more than a paycheck — it is service offered to God. These verses about work give meaning, dignity and rest to daily labor.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” — Colossians 3:23 (KJV)

Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men — addressed first to household slaves. The audience makes the instruction more radical, not less.

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” — Genesis 2:15 (KJV)

God put the man into the garden to dress it and to keep it, before anything had gone wrong. Work appears in Scripture prior to the curse.

“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.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV)

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might — the reason given is that there is no work in the grave. Mortality is the argument for effort.

“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” — Proverbs 14:23 (KJV)

In all labour there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Work and talk about work are contrasted directly.

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV)

If any would not work, neither should he eat — written about members who had stopped working while waiting for Christ's return. It addresses unwillingness, not inability.

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” — Proverbs 22:29 (KJV)

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings. Competence, not connection, is named as the route.

“With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:” — Ephesians 6:7 (KJV)

With good will doing service, as to the Lord and not to men — the same reframing Paul gives elsewhere. Good will is the part that cannot be compelled.

“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” — Psalm 90:17 (KJV)

Establish thou the work of our hands upon us — repeated twice in one verse. Moses prays that work outlast the worker.

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” — Proverbs 16:3 (KJV)

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The order given is unexpected: the doing is committed, and the thinking settles.

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;” — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (KJV)

Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands. Quietness is presented as something to work at.

“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” — Proverbs 10:4 (KJV)

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. The proverb states a tendency rather than a guarantee.

“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” — Colossians 3:24 (KJV)

Of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ. Written to workers whose earthly employers owed them nothing.

“And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” — Nehemiah 6:3 (KJV)

I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down — Nehemiah's reply to four invitations designed to stop him. Refusing distraction is treated as part of the job.

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” — Proverbs 6:6 (KJV)

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. The instruction is to observe rather than to be lectured.

“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” — Proverbs 13:4 (KJV)

The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Both are described as wanting; only one acts.

“And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” — Titus 3:14 (KJV)

Let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Learn implies work habits are taught rather than innate.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about work?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on work: Colossians 3:23, Genesis 2:15, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Proverbs 14:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Proverbs 22:29, Ephesians 6:7, Psalm 90:17, Proverbs 16:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Proverbs 10:4, Colossians 3:24…

What is a good Bible verse about work?

Colossians 3:23 is the passage most often quoted on work, with Genesis 2:15 and Ecclesiastes 9:10 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these work verses?

You can read all of these verses about work — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.