Add parallel Print Page Options

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep.
    The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Read full chapter

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!(A)

Read full chapter

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
    therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Read full chapter

The slacker does not plow during planting season;[a]
at harvest time he looks,[b] and there is nothing.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 20:4 Lit plow in winter
  2. 20:4 Lit inquires

13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
    Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

Read full chapter

13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(A)

Read full chapter

17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.
    He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long;
    but the righteous give and don’t withhold.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 21:26 Lit He craves a craving

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
    He will serve kings.
    He won’t serve obscure men.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

27 Prepare your work outside,
    and get your fields ready.
    Afterwards, build your house.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

30 I went by the field of the sluggard,
    by the vineyard of the man void of understanding:
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.
    Its surface was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well.
    I saw, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 so your poverty will come as a robber
    and your want as an armed man.

Read full chapter

30 I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of one 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,
and your need, like a bandit.(B)

Read full chapter

14 As the door turns on its hinges,
    so does the sluggard on his bed.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit.
    He who looks after his master shall be honored.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

23 Know well the state of your flocks,
    and pay attention to your herds:
24 for riches are not forever,
    nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears,
    the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
    and the goats are the price of a field.
27 There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food,
    for your family’s food,
    and for the nourishment of your servant girls.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food;
    but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter