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15 Lazy people sleep soundly,
    but idleness leaves them hungry.

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15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
    an idle person will suffer hunger.(A)

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24 Lazy people take food in their hand
    but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

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24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
    and will not even bring it back to the mouth.(A)

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Those too lazy to plow in the right season
    will have no food at the harvest.

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The lazy person does not plow in season;
    harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.(A)

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13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

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13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.(A)

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17 Those who love pleasure become poor;
    those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.

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17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want;
    whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.

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25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
    for their hands refuse to work.

26 Some people are always greedy for more,
    but the godly love to give!

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25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,
    for lazy hands refuse to labor.(A)
26 All day long the wicked covet,[a]
    but the righteous give and do not hold back.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21.26 Gk: Heb all day long one covets covetously

29 Do you see any truly competent workers?
    They will serve kings
    rather than working for ordinary people.

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29 Do you see those who are skillful in their work?
    They will serve kings;
    they will not serve common people.(A)

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27 Do your planning and prepare your fields
    before building your house.

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27 Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for you in the field;
    and after that build your house.

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30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,
    the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
    It was covered with weeds,
    and its walls were broken down.
32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,
    I learned this lesson:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

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30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
    by the vineyard of a stupid person,(A)
31 and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,(B)
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior.

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14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
    so the lazy person turns over in bed.

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14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a lazy person in bed.

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18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,
    so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.

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18 Anyone who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and anyone who takes care of a master will be honored.(A)

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23 Know the state of your flocks,
    and put your heart into caring for your herds,
24 for riches don’t last forever,
    and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.
25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears
    and the mountain grasses are gathered in,
26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
    and your goats will provide the price of a field.
27 And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself,
    your family, and your servant girls.

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23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and give attention to your herds,
24 for riches do not last forever,
    nor a crown for all generations.(A)
25 When the grass is gone, and new growth appears,
    and the herbage of the mountains is gathered,(B)
26 the lambs will provide your clothing,
    and the goats the price of a field;
27 there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
    for the food of your household
    and nourishment for your female servants.

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19 A hard worker has plenty of food,
    but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

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19 Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread,
    but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.(A)

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