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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 the door turns on its hinges,
    so does the sluggard on his 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 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit.
    He who looks after his master shall be honored.

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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 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.

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