What Does the Bible Say About Work?

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

— Genesis 2:15 (ESV)

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

— Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

"Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."

— Ecclesiastes 3:13 (ESV)

"You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you."

— Psalm 128:2 (ESV)

"A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."

— Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)

"The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor."

— Proverbs 12:24 (ESV)

"For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."

— 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (ESV)

"Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men."

— Proverbs 22:29 (ESV)

"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight."

— Proverbs 11:1 (ESV)

"Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man."

— Ephesians 6:5-7 (ESV)

"Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior."

— Titus 2:9-10 (ESV)