Proverbs 6:6-11
Expanded Bible
6 Go watch the ants, you lazy person.
Watch ·what they do [L its paths] and ·be [or become] wise.
7 Ants have no commander,
no leader or ruler,
8 but they ·store up [get their] food in the summer
and gather their ·supplies [provisions] at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you lazy person?
When will you get up from sleeping?
10 ·You sleep a little; you take a nap [L “A little sleep, a little slumber”].
·You fold your hands and [L “A little folding of the arms to…”] lie down to rest.
11 So ·you will be as poor as if you had been robbed [L poverty will come on you like a robber];
·you will have as little as if you had been held up [L deprivation like a shielded warrior].
Proverbs 6:6-11
Amplified Bible
6
Go to the ant, O lazy one;
Observe her ways and be wise,(A)
7
Which, having no chief,
Overseer or ruler,
8
She prepares her food in the summer
And brings in her provisions [of food for the winter] in the harvest.
9
How long will you lie down, O lazy one?
When will you arise from your sleep [and learn self-discipline]?(B)
10
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest”—
11
So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely]
And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless].(C)
Proverbs 10:4
Expanded Bible
4 A ·lazy person will end up [L slack palm makes a person] poor,
but a ·hard worker will become [L determined hand makes a person] rich.
Proverbs 10:4
Amplified Bible
4
Poor is he who works with a negligent and idle hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes him rich.
Proverbs 10:5
Expanded Bible
5 Those who gather crops ·on time [L in the summer] are wise,
but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace.
Proverbs 10:5
Amplified Bible
5
He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully.
Proverbs 10:26
Expanded Bible
26 A lazy person affects the one ·he works for [L who sends him]
like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes [C irritating].
Proverbs 10:26
Amplified Bible
26
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.
Proverbs 12:11
Expanded Bible
11 Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the one who chases ·empty dreams [emptiness] ·is not wise [lacks sense/heart].
Proverbs 12:11
Amplified Bible
11
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.
Proverbs 12:24
Expanded Bible
24 Hard workers will ·become leaders [be in charge],
but those who are lazy will be ·slaves [put to forced labor].
Proverbs 12:24
Amplified Bible
24
The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
Proverbs 12:27
Expanded Bible
27 The lazy ·catch no food to cook [L do not roast their prey],
but a hard worker will have great wealth.
Proverbs 12:27
Amplified Bible
27
The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].
Proverbs 13:4
Expanded Bible
4 The desire of the lazy is strong, but they get nothing,
but desire of those who work hard will be satisfied.
Proverbs 13:4
Amplified Bible
4
The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition],
But the soul (appetite) of the diligent [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.(A)
Proverbs 13:11
Expanded Bible
11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly,
but money that is gathered little by little will grow.
Proverbs 13:11
Amplified Bible
11
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].
Proverbs 14:4
Expanded Bible
4 When there are no oxen, ·no food is in the barn [or the barn is empty].
But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.
Proverbs 14:4
Amplified Bible
4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox.
Proverbs 15:19
Expanded Bible
19 A lazy person’s ·life [L path] is like a patch of thorns,
but an ·honest [virtuous] person’s ·life [path] is like a smooth highway.
Proverbs 15:19
Amplified Bible
19
The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him],
But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.
Proverbs 16:26
Expanded Bible
26 The workers’ hunger ·helps [L works for] them,
·because their desire to eat makes them work [L and their mouths press/urge them on].
Proverbs 16:26
Amplified Bible
26
The appetite of a worker works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
