What the Bible Says About Slothfulness

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. slothful: or, deceitful

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. is made: Heb. is raised up as a causey

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. cold: or, winter

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. considered: Heb. set my heart

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. an: Heb. a man of shield

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. it grieveth: or, he is weary

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. sleeping: or, dreaming, or, talking in their sleep

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.