Go to the (A)ant, O (B)sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
Which, having (C)no chief,
Officer or ruler,
Prepares her food (D)in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 (E)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to [a]rest”—
11 (F)Your poverty will come in like a [b]vagabond
And your need like [c]an armed man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:10 Lit lie down
  2. Proverbs 6:11 Lit one who walks
  3. Proverbs 6:11 Lit a man with a shield

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the (A)hand of the diligent makes rich.

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He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

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26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the (A)lazy one to those who send him.

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11 He (A)who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks [a]sense.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [a]slack hand will be (A)put to forced labor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Lit slackness

27 A [a]lazy man does not [b]roast his prey,
But the (A)precious possession of a man is diligence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 Lit slackness
  2. Proverbs 12:27 Or catch

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

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11 Wealth obtained by [a]fraud dwindles,
But the one who gathers [b]by labor increases it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Lit vanity
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Or gradually; lit on the hand

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

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19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth