Add parallel Print Page Options

Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
Consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no [a]chief,
Overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her bread in the summer,
And gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou [b]sleep, O sluggard?
When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to [c]sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as a [d]robber,
And thy want as [e]an armed man.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:7 Or, judge
  2. Proverbs 6:9 Hebrew lie down.
  3. Proverbs 6:10 Hebrew lie down.
  4. Proverbs 6:11 Or, rover
  5. Proverbs 6:11 Hebrew a man with a shield.

Go to the ant, you sluggard;(A)
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer(B)
    and gathers its food at harvest.(C)

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?(D)
    When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(E)
11 and poverty(F) will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

Read full chapter

He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand;
But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
He that gathereth in summer is [a]a wise son;
But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son [b]that causeth shame.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:5 Or, a son that doeth wisely
  2. Proverbs 10:5 Or, that doeth shamefully

Lazy hands make for poverty,(A)
    but diligent hands bring wealth.(B)

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.(C)

Read full chapter

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,
So is the sluggard to them that send him.

Read full chapter

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke(A) to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.(B)

Read full chapter

11 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;
But he that followeth after [a]vain persons is void of understanding.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:11 Or, vain things

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(A)

Read full chapter

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule;
But [a]the slothful shall be put under taskwork.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Hebrew slothfulness.

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(A)

Read full chapter

27 [a]The slothful man [b]roasteth not that which he took in hunting;
But the precious substance of men [c]is to the diligent.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 Hebrew slothfulness.
  2. Proverbs 12:27 Or, catcheth not his prey
  3. Proverbs 12:27 Or, is to be diligent

27 The lazy do not roast[a] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Read full chapter

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(A)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Read full chapter

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;
But much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Read full chapter

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(A) come abundant harvests.

Read full chapter

23 In all labor there is profit;
But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Read full chapter

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Read full chapter

19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns;
But the path of the upright is made a highway.

Read full chapter

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(A)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

Read full chapter

26 The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him;
For his mouth urgeth him thereto.

Read full chapter

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

Read full chapter

He also that is slack in his work
Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

Read full chapter

One who is slack in his work
    is brother to one who destroys.(A)

Read full chapter