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Laziness in the Bible

26 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.

Sayings in Proverbs

  • Go to the ant, O slacker: it gathers food in summerProv 6:6–8
    The verses
    Prov 6:6–8Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
  • A little sleep, and poverty comes like a robberProv 6:9–11
    The verses
    Prov 6:9–11How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
  • The slacker’s field: thorns, thistles and a broken stone wallProv 24:30–34
    The verses
    Prov 24:30–34I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
  • Idle hands make one poorProv 10:4
    The verses
    Prov 10:4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
  • He who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful sonProv 10:5
    The verses
    Prov 10:5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
  • Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyesProv 10:26
    The verses
    Prov 10:26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.
  • Laziness ends in forced laborProv 12:24
    The verses
    Prov 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
  • A lazy man does not roast his gameProv 12:27
    The verses
    Prov 12:27A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
  • The slacker craves yet has nothingProv 13:4, Prov 21:25
    The verses
    Prov 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
    Prov 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
  • The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thornsProv 15:19
    The verses
    Prov 15:19The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
  • Slothful in his work: brother to him who destroysProv 18:9
    The verses
    Prov 18:9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
  • He buries his hand in the dish and will not lift it to his mouthProv 19:24, Prov 26:15
    The verses
    Prov 19:24The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
    Prov 26:15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
  • He does not plow in season and finds nothing at harvestProv 20:4
    The verses
    Prov 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
  • “There is a lion outside!”Prov 22:13, Prov 26:13
    The verses
    Prov 22:13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
    Prov 26:13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
  • As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker on his bedProv 26:14
    The verses
    Prov 26:14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
  • Wiser in his own eyes than seven who answer discreetlyProv 26:16
    The verses
    Prov 26:16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

Elsewhere

  • Through laziness the roof caves in and the house leaksEccl 10:18
    The verses
    Eccl 10:18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
  • The fool folds his handsEccl 4:5
    The verses
    Eccl 4:5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
  • The servant who buried his talent is called lazyMatt 25:26
    The verses
    Matt 25:26‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.
  • Do not let your zeal subsideRom 12:11
    The verses
    Rom 12:11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
  • “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat”2 Thess 3:10–12
    The verses
    2 Thess 3:10–12For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
  • Young widows learn to be idle, going from house to house1 Tim 5:13
    The verses
    1 Tim 5:13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
  • Do not be sluggishHeb 6:12
    The verses
    Heb 6:12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Sources

From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain