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

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15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
    a slacker goes hungry.

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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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24 Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl;
    they won’t even put it to their mouth.

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

The lazy don’t plow during winter;
    at harvest they look but find nothing.

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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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13 Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
    stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.

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

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17 Those who love pleasure end up poor;
    lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.

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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. Proverbs 21:26 Lit He craves a craving

25 The desires of the lazy will kill them,
    because their hands refuse to do anything.
26 The lazy desire things constantly,
    but the righteous give without holding back.

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

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29 Do you see people who work skillfully?
    They will work for kings
        but not work for lowly people.

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27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;(A)
afterward, build your house.

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27 Get your outside work done;
    make preparations in the field;
    then you can build your house.

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30 I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
31 Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground,(A)
and the stone wall was ruined.
32 I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
34 and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.(B)

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30 I happened upon the field of a lazy person,
    by the vineyard of one with no sense.
31 Thorns grew all over it;
    weeds covered the ground,
    and the stone wall was falling down.
32 I observed this and took it to heart;
    I saw it and learned a lesson.
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little lying down with folded arms”—
34     and poverty will come on you like a prowler,
    deprivation like a man with a shield.

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14 A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed.(A)

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14 As a door turns on its hinge,
    so do lazy people in their beds.

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18 Whoever tends a fig tree(A) will eat its fruit,(B)
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

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18 Those who tend a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and those who look after their master will be honored.

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23 Know well the condition of your flock,(A)
and pay attention to your herds,
24 for wealth is not forever;(B)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
26 lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
27 there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.(C)

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23 Know your flock well;
    pay attention to your herds,
24         for no treasure lasts forever,
        nor a crown generation after generation.
25 When the grass goes away, new growth appears,
    and the plants of the hills are gathered,
26         then the lambs will provide your clothes,
        and the goats will be the price of your fields.
27 There will be enough goat’s milk for your food,
    for the food of your house,
    and to nourish your young women.

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19 The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,(A)
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.(B)

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19 Those who work the land will have plenty to eat,
    but those with worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

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