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 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
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 Lazy hands produce poverty,
but hardworking hands bring riches.
Proverbs 10:4
Lexham English Bible
4 A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent enriches.
Proverbs 10:5
Evangelical Heritage Version
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 10:5
Lexham English Bible
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
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 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
Evangelical Heritage Version
11 A person who works his land will have enough food,
but whoever pursues fantasies lacks sense.
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
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 12:24
Lexham English Bible
24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule,
but the lazy will belong to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:27
Evangelical Heritage Version
27 A lazy person does not roast his game,
but a diligent person uses his wealth wisely.
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
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 13:4
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 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 13:11
Lexham English Bible
11 Wealth gained from haste[a] will dwindle,
but he who gathers little by little[b] will increase it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:11 Or “vanity”
- Proverbs 13:11 Literally “upon the hand”
Proverbs 14:4
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 Without cattle the manger is empty,
but a great harvest is gained by the strength of an ox.
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 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 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
Evangelical Heritage Version
26 A laborer’s appetite labors for him,
because the hunger of his mouth drives him on.
Proverbs 16:26
Lexham English Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:26 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 16:26 Literally “mouth”
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