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 6:6-11
Lexham English Bible
Against Sloth
6 Go to the ant, lazy!
Consider its ways and be wise.
7 It has no chief,
officer, or ruler.
8 In the summer, it prepares its food;
in the harvest, it gathers its sustenance.
9 How long will you lie down, lazy?
When will you rise up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands for rest—
11 like a robber[a] shall your poverty come,
and what you lack like an armed man.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:11 Literally “one who walks,” that is, a vagabond
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 10:4-5
Lexham English Bible
4 A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent enriches.
5 He who gathers in the summer is a child who is prudent;
he who sleeps at the harvest is a child who brings shame.
Proverbs 10:26
New King James Version
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.
Proverbs 10:26
Lexham English Bible
26 Like vinegar to the tooth and like smoke to the eyes,
thus is the lazy to one who employs[a] him.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:26 Or “sends”
Proverbs 12:11
New King James Version
11 (A)He who [a]tills his land will be satisfied with (B)bread,
But he who follows [b]frivolity (C)is devoid of [c]understanding.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:11 works or cultivates
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. vain things
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
Proverbs 12:11
Lexham English Bible
11 He who works his land will have plenty of food,
but he who follows worthless things lacks sense.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:11 Literally “heart”
Proverbs 12:24
New King James Version
24 (A)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:24
Lexham English Bible
24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule,
but the lazy will belong to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:27
New King James Version
27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.
Proverbs 12:27
Lexham English Bible
27 The lazy will not roast his game,
but diligence is the precious wealth of a man.
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 13:4
Lexham English Bible
4 The soul[a] of the lazy craves, but there is nothing,
but the person of diligence is richly supplied.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:4 Or “life”
Proverbs 14:4
New King James Version
4 Where no oxen are, the [a]trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:4 manger or feed trough
Proverbs 14:4
Lexham English Bible
4 When there are no[a] oxen the manger is empty,
but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:4 Literally “In there is no”
- Proverbs 14:4 Hebrew “bull”
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 14:23
Lexham English Bible
23 In all toil, there is profit,
but the talk[a] of lips leads only to poverty.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:23 Literally “word, matter, thing”
Proverbs 15:19
New King James Version
19 (A)The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 15:19
Lexham English Bible
19 The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,[a]
but the path of the upright is a highway.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:19 Hebrew “thorn”
Proverbs 16:26
New King James Version
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives (A)him on.
Proverbs 16:26
Lexham English Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:26 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 16:26 Literally “mouth”
Proverbs 18:9
New King James Version
9 He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
Proverbs 18:9
Lexham English Bible
9 Even he who is slack in his work,
he is brother to a master[a] of destruction.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:9 Or “owner”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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