Add parallel Print Page Options

Go to the ant, you sluggard.
    Consider her ways, and be wise;
which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
    provides her bread in the summer,
    and gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you sleep, sluggard?
    When will you arise out of your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 so your poverty will come as a robber,
    and your scarcity as an armed man.

Read full chapter

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
    Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
    or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
    gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
    When will you wake up?
10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Read full chapter

He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,
    but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

Read full chapter

Lazy people are soon poor;
    hard workers get rich.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

A wise youth harvests in the summer,
    but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

26 Lazy people irritate their employers,
    like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

Read full chapter

11 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread,
    but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.

Read full chapter

11 A hard worker has plenty of food,
    but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

Read full chapter

24 The hands of the diligent ones shall rule,
    but laziness ends in slave labor.

Read full chapter

24 Work hard and become a leader;
    be lazy and become a slave.

Read full chapter

27 The slothful man doesn’t roast his game,
    but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

Read full chapter

27 Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,
    but the diligent make use of everything they find.

Read full chapter

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,
    but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

Read full chapter

Lazy people want much but get little,
    but those who work hard will prosper.

Read full chapter

11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
    but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

Read full chapter

11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
    wealth from hard work grows over time.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Without oxen a stable stays clean,
    but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

Read full chapter

19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

Read full chapter

19 A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers,
    but the path of the upright is an open highway.

Read full chapter

26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him;
    for his mouth urges him on.

Read full chapter

26 It is good for workers to have an appetite;
    an empty stomach drives them on.

Read full chapter