27 Bible Verses About Work (NIV & KJV)

Work is part of God's good design for humanity, present even before sin entered the world. From the garden of Eden to the workshops of the New Testament, Scripture treats labor as honorable, purposeful, and a means through which we serve both God and our neighbor. The Bible neither idolizes work nor dismisses it, but calls us to labor faithfully and rest in God's provision.

These Bible verses about work gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on diligence, the dangers of laziness, working as unto the Lord, and finding meaning in our daily labor. Whether you are starting a new job, weary in your tasks, or seeking to honor God in your career, these words will encourage and direct you.

Let these verses remind you that your work matters to God, that diligence is rewarded, and that every honest task done in faith becomes an offering to the Lord.

🔨 Work as Unto the Lord

These verses call us to do all our work for God's glory.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”— Colossians 3:23 (NIV)“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”— Colossians 3:23 (KJV)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”— 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”— 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)

“since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”— Colossians 3:24 (NIV)“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”— Colossians 3:24 (KJV)

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”— Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)“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)

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”— 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”— 2 Corinthians 5:9 (KJV)

💪 The Reward of Diligence

Scripture promises blessing to those who work faithfully.

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”— Proverbs 13:4 (NIV)“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”— Proverbs 13:4 (KJV)

“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”— Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”— Proverbs 10:4 (KJV)

“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”— Proverbs 22:29 (NIV)“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”— Proverbs 22:29 (KJV)

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”— Proverbs 14:23 (NIV)“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”— Proverbs 14:23 (KJV)

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”— Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”— Proverbs 21:5 (KJV)

😴 Warnings Against Laziness

These verses caution against idleness and slothfulness.

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

“How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?”— Proverbs 6:9 (NIV)“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?”— Proverbs 6:9 (KJV)

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.””— 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV)“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)

“One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.”— Proverbs 18:9 (NIV)“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”— Proverbs 18:9 (KJV)

“The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.”— Proverbs 21:25 (NIV)“The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”— Proverbs 21:25 (KJV)

🌱 Work and God's Provision

The Bible reminds us that God blesses our labor.

“Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”— Psalm 127:1 (NIV)“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”— Psalm 127:1 (KJV)

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”— Psalm 90:17 (NIV)“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)

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”— Psalm 128:2 (NIV)“For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”— Psalm 128:2 (KJV)

“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,”— Ecclesiastes 2:24 (NIV)“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.”— Ecclesiastes 2:24 (KJV)

🤝 Integrity and Honesty in Work

Scripture calls for faithfulness and good character on the job.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”— Colossians 3:22 (NIV)“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”— Colossians 3:22 (KJV)

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”— Ephesians 4:28 (NIV)“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.”— Ephesians 4:28 (KJV)

“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,”— 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV)“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)

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”— 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”— 1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)

🕊️ Rest and Balance in Labor

The Bible balances work with the gift of rest.

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work,”— Exodus 20:9 (NIV)“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:”— Exodus 20:9 (KJV)

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”— Psalm 127:2 (NIV)“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”— Psalm 127:2 (KJV)

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”— 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”— 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Work?

The Bible says that work is a good gift from God, woven into His design for human life from the very beginning. Scripture honors diligence and warns against laziness, teaching that "the hand of the diligent maketh rich" (Proverbs 10:4) while the sluggard comes to want. Far from being a punishment, faithful labor brings dignity, provision, and the satisfaction of seeing the work of our hands established by God.

Most importantly, the Bible reframes all work as service to God. We are told to do everything "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23), which means even ordinary tasks become acts of worship when done in faith. At the same time, Scripture guards against overwork by commanding rest, reminding us that unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain. Work and rest together, held in trust toward God, form a balanced and blessed life.

May these verses bring purpose and peace to your labor. For more Scripture to guide your daily life, explore our Bible verses about success, Bible verses about purpose, and Bible verses about money.