Proverbs 14:4

Modern

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

Traditional

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Literal

With no oxen, the trough is empty, and an abundance of produce is by the strength of an ox.

Latin

Ubi non sunt boves, præsepe vacuum est; ubi autem plurimæ segetes, ibi manifesta est fortitudo bovis.

Hebrew

English

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

It is easy to keep a stable clean if it is empty, but a farmer without an ox cannot harvest crops.

Theme notes and profiles

1 Corinthians 9:9–11
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
Proverbs 13:23
Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
Amos 4:6
“I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.