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The Folly of Idleness

Go to the ant, you sluggard!
    Consider her ways and be wise.
Which, having no guide,
    overseer, or ruler,
provides her bread in the summer,
    and gathers her food in the harvest.

How long will you sleep, O sluggard?
    When will you arise out of your sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 so will your poverty come upon you like a stalker,
    and your need as an armed man.

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Look to the ant, thou sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

which, having no guide, overseer or ruler,

provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep”

11 so shall thy poverty come as a marauder, and thy want as an armed man.

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He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand,
    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

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He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

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He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

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He that gathereth in summer is a wise son, but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

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

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26 As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

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11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
    but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.

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11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

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

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24 The hand of the diligent shall exercise rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute.

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27 The slothful man does not roast that which he took in hunting,
    but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

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27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

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The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing;
    but the soul of the diligent will be made fat.

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The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

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11 Wealth gained by vanity will be diminished,
    but he who gathers by labor will increase.

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11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.

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Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;
    but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

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Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase comes by the strength of the ox.

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19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns,
    but the way of the righteous is made plain.

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19 The way of a slothful man is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the righteous is made a plain.

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26 He who labors, labors for himself,
    for his mouth craves it of him.

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26 He that laboreth, laboreth for himself, for his mouth craveth it of him.

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