Life and work

What the Bible says about laziness

The 15 verses readers most often turn to for this topic, quoted in full from the Berean Standard Bible.

Prov 10:4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

2 Thess 3:10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

Prov 6:9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

Prov 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

Col 3:23Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,

Prov 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

Prov 6:6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

Prov 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.

Prov 18:9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.

Prov 20:13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

Prov 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

Prov 14:23There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

2 Thess 3:11–12Yet 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.

Prov 22:13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”

Prov 19:15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

These are the verses readers most often turn to for this topic — not a teaching on it. Read each in its chapter.

Sources

The verses of each topic and their order: OpenBible.info topical data, by readers’ votes: OpenBible.info · CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain