Proverbs 6:6-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Ant and the Sluggard at Harvest
6 [a]Go to the ant,(A) O sluggard,
study her ways and learn wisdom;
7 For though she has no chief,
no commander or ruler,
8 She procures her food in the summer,
stores up her provisions in the harvest.
9 How long, O sluggard, will you lie there?
when will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest—[b]
11 Then poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like a brigand.
Footnotes
- 6:6–11 The sluggard or lazybones is a type in Proverbs, like the righteous and the wicked. Sometimes the opposite type to the sluggard is the diligent person. Other extended passages on the sluggard are 24:30–34 and 26:13–16. The malice of the type is not low physical energy but the refusal to act. To describe human types, Proverbs often uses comparisons from the animal world, e.g., 27:8 (bird); 28:1, 15 (lion); 30:18–19 (eagle, snake); 30:24–28 (ant, badger, locust, lizard).
- 6:10 This verse may be regarded as the sluggard’s reply or as a continuation of the remonstrance.
Miyambo 6:6-11
Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero
6 Pita kwa nyerere, mlesi iwe;
kaonetsetse njira zake kuti uphunzirepo kanthu!
7 Zilibe mfumu,
zilibe woyangʼanira kapena wolamulira,
8 komabe zimasungiratu chakudya chake nthawi ya chilimwe
ndipo zimatuta chakudyacho nthawi yokolola.
9 Kodi uzingogonabe pamenepo mpaka liti mlesi iwe?
Kodi tulo tako tidzatha liti?
10 Ukati ndingogona pangʼono, ndingowodzera pangʼono
ndingopinda manjawa pangʼono kuti ndipumule,
11 umphawi udzakugwira ngati mbala
ndipo usiwa udzafika ngati munthu wachifwamba.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
The Word of God in Contemporary Chichewa Copyright © 2002, 2016 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Mwini © 2002, 2016 ndi Biblica, Inc.® Kugwiritsa ntchito mwachilolezo. Umwini ndi otetezedwa pa dziko lonse.