Proverbs 6:6-11
New King James Version
The Folly of Indolence
6 (A)Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no [a]captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her [b]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 (B)How long will you [c]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 (C)So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:7 Lit. leader
- Proverbs 6:8 Lit. bread
- Proverbs 6:9 Lit. lie down
Proverbs 10:4-5
New King James Version
4 (A)He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But (B)the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in (C)summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is (D)a son who causes shame.
Proverbs 12:14
New King James Version
14 (A)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
(B)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
Proverbs 13:4
New King James Version
4 (A)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
Proverbs 14:23
New King James Version
23 In all labor there is profit,
But [a]idle chatter leads only to poverty.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:23 Lit. talk of the lips
Proverbs 16:26
New King James Version
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives (A)him on.
Proverbs 22:29
New King James Version
29 Do you see a man who [a]excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before [b]unknown men.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:29 is prompt in his business
- Proverbs 22:29 obscure
Proverbs 28:19
New King James Version
19 (A)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13
New King James Version
The God-Given Task
9 (A)What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 (B)I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that (C)no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12 I know that nothing is (D)better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that (E)every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
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2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
New King James Version
Warning Against Idleness
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (A)that you withdraw (B)from every brother who walks (C)disorderly and not according to the tradition which [a]he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread [b]free of charge, but worked with (D)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have (E)authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are (F)busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and [c]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ (G)that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 NU, M they
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit. for nothing
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 encourage
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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