Laziness

Go to the ant,(A) you slacker!(B)
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.(C)
How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
11 and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.(D)

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Idle hands make one poor,
but diligent hands bring riches.(A)

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The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.(A)

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26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,(A)
so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.

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11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food,(A)
but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.(B)

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24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.(A)

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27 A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game,(A)
but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.(B)

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The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(A)

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11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(A)
but whoever earns it through labor[a] will multiply it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon his hand

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,[a]
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:4 Or clean

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.(A)

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26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger[a] urges him on.

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Footnotes

  1. 16:26 Lit mouth

A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

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The one who is lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:9 Lit master of destruction

15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.(A)

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24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!(A)

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The slacker does not plow during planting season;[a]
at harvest time he looks,[b] and there is nothing.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:4 Lit plow in winter
  2. 20:4 Lit inquires

13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(A)

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The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.(A)

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17 The one who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.(A)

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25 A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.(A)
26 He is filled with craving[a] all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:26 Lit He craves a craving

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!” (A)

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29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.(A)

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10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.

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