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.

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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

Laziness

Go to the ant,(A) you slacker!(B)
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.(C)
How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
11 and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.(D)

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Poor is one who works with [a]a lazy hand,
But the (A)hand of the diligent makes rich.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:4 Lit an idle hand

Idle hands make one poor,
but diligent hands bring riches.(A)

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He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

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The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.(A)

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:26 Lit idle one

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,(A)
so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart

11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food,(A)
but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.(B)

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle

24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.(A)

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

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Footnotes

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

27 A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game,(A)
but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.(B)

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

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Footnotes

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

The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(A)

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11 Wealth obtained from [a]nothing dwindles,
But one who gathers [b]by labor increases it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Prob. referring to fraud
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Lit by hand

11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(A)
but whoever earns it through labor[a] will multiply it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon his hand

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

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Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,[a]
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:4 Or clean

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:19 Lit idle

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.(A)

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth

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

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Footnotes

  1. 16:26 Lit mouth