15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
    and the shiftless go hungry.(A)

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15 (A)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And [a]a lazy [b]person will suffer hunger.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:15 Lit an idle
  2. Proverbs 19:15 Lit soul

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!(A)

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24 The [a](A)lazy one buries his hand (B)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:24 Lit idle person

Sluggards(A) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(B)

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The [a](A)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [b]begs during the harvest and has nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(A)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

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13 (A)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [a]food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(A)

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17 One who (A)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

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25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(A)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(B) give without sparing.(C)

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25 The (A)desire of the [a]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [b]is craving,
While the righteous (B)gives and does not hold back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:25 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(A) in their work?
    They will serve(B) before kings;(C)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

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29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will (A)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.

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27 Put your outdoor work in order
    and get your fields ready;
    after that, build your house.

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27 Prepare your work outside,
And (A)make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterward, then, build your house.

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30 I went past the field of a sluggard,(A)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(B)
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.(C)

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30 I passed by the field of [a]a lazy one,
And by the vineyard of a person (A)lacking [b]sense,
31 And behold, it was completely (B)overgrown with weeds;
Its surface was covered with (C)weeds,
And its stone (D)wall was broken down.
32 When I saw, I [c]reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
33 (E)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”
34 Then your poverty will come like [d]a drifter,
And your need like [e]an armed man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:30 Lit an idle
  2. Proverbs 24:30 Lit heart
  3. Proverbs 24:32 Lit set my heart
  4. Proverbs 24:34 Lit one who moves about
  5. Proverbs 24:34 Lit a man with a shield

14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.(A)

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14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does a (A)lazy one on his bed.

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18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(A)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.(B)

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18 One who tends the (A)fig tree will eat its fruit,
And one who (B)cares for his master will be honored.

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23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,(A)
    give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,(B)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

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23 (A)Know well the [a]condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever,
Nor does a (B)crown endure to all generations.
25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are (C)gathered in,
26 The lambs will be for your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field,
27 And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And sustenance for your attendants.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:23 Lit face

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(A)

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19 (A)One who works his land will (B)have plenty of food,
But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

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