Proverbs 6:6-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 Go to the ant, you lazybones;
consider its ways and be wise.(A)
7 Without having any chief
or officer or ruler,
8 it prepares its food in summer
and gathers its sustenance in harvest.(B)
9 How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
When will you rise from your sleep?(C)
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want, like an armed warrior.(D)
Proverbs 6:6-11
Evangelical Heritage Version
Wisdom Warns Against Laziness
6 Go to the ant, you slacker![a]
Observe its ways and become wise.
7 Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,
8 it stores its food in summer.
It gathers its provisions at harvest time.
9 How long will you lie there, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of your hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come on you like a prowler,
and scarcity will come on you like a warrior.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:6 Or you loafer or you lazybones
Proverbs 10:4-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.(A)
5 A child who gathers in summer is prudent,
but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.(B)
Proverbs 10:4-5
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 Lazy hands produce poverty,
but hardworking hands bring riches.
5 Whoever gathers crops in summer is a sensible[a] son.
Whoever sleeps at harvest time is a disgraceful[b] son.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:5 Or far-sighted
- Proverbs 10:5 Or an embarrassing
Proverbs 10:26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are the lazy to their employers.(A)
Proverbs 10:26
Evangelical Heritage Version
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes,
so is a lazy person to those who send him.
Proverbs 12:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.(A)
Proverbs 12:11
Evangelical Heritage Version
11 A person who works his land will have enough food,
but whoever pursues fantasies lacks sense.
Proverbs 12:24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the lazy will be put to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:24
Evangelical Heritage Version
24 Hardworking hands will rule,
but laziness results in forced labor.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:24 Or leads to debtor’s prison
Proverbs 12:27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 12:27
Evangelical Heritage Version
27 A lazy person does not roast his game,
but a diligent person uses his wealth wisely.
Proverbs 13:4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing,
while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.(A)
Proverbs 13:4
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 The appetite of a lazy person craves things, but he gets nothing.
The appetite of hardworking people is fully satisfied.
Proverbs 13:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 Wealth hastily gotten[a] will dwindle,
but those who gather little by little will increase it.(A)
Footnotes
- 13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
Proverbs 13:11
Evangelical Heritage Version
11 Wealth gained out of thin air[a] shrinks,
but wealth accumulated by steady work grows.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:11 Or dishonestly. A variant in the versions is too quickly.
Proverbs 14:23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23
Evangelical Heritage Version
23 In all hard work there is gain,
but empty talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 15:19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.(A)
Proverbs 15:19
Evangelical Heritage Version
19 The way of a lazy person is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of upright people is a highway.
Proverbs 18:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 One who is slack in work
is close kin to a vandal.(A)
Proverbs 18:9
Evangelical Heritage Version
9 A person who fails to do his work
is a brother to a vandal.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.