Go to the (A)ant, you [a](B)lazy one,
Observe its ways and be wise,
Which, having (C)no chief,
Officer, or ruler,
Prepares its food (D)in the summer
And gathers its provision in the harvest.
How long will you lie down, you [b]lazy one?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 (E)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to [c]rest,”
11 (F)Then your poverty will come in like a [d]drifter,
And your need like [e]an armed man.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:6 Lit idle one
  2. Proverbs 6:9 Lit idle one
  3. Proverbs 6:10 Lit lie down
  4. Proverbs 6:11 Lit one who moves about
  5. Proverbs 6:11 Lit a man with a shield

Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief,
    officer or ruler,
she prepares her food in summer,
    and gathers her sustenance in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond,
    and want like an armed man.

Read full chapter

Poor is one who works with [a]a lazy hand,
But the (A)hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:4 Lit an idle hand

A slack hand causes poverty,
    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
A son who gathers in summer is prudent,
    but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame.

Read full chapter

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the [a](A)lazy one to those who send him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:26 Lit idle one

26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,
    so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Read full chapter

11 One (A)who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks [a]sense.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart

11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense.

Read full chapter

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [a]lazy hand will be (A)put to forced labor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Read full chapter

27 [a]A lazy person does not [b]roast his prey,
But the (A)precious possession of a person is diligence.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 Lit An indolent
  2. Proverbs 12:27 Or catch

27 A slothful man will not catch his prey,[a]
    but the diligent man will get precious wealth.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 Cn Compare Gk Syr: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Proverbs 12:27 Cn: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

The soul of the [a]lazy one craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made [b]prosperous.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:4 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 13:4 Lit fat

The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Read full chapter

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean;
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

Read full chapter

Where there are no oxen, there is no[a] grain;
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:4 Cn: Heb a manger of

23 In all labor there is profit,
But [a]mere talk leads only to poverty.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:23 Lit word of lips

23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk tends only to want.

Read full chapter

19 The way of the [a]lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:19 Lit idle

19 The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.

Read full chapter

26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his [a]hunger urges him on.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth

26 A worker’s appetite works for him;
    his mouth urges him on.

Read full chapter

He also who is (A)lax in his work
(B)Is a brother to him who destroys.

Read full chapter

He who is slack in his work
    is a brother to him who destroys.

Read full chapter