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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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He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand,
    but the hand of the diligent makes 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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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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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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24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    but the slothful will be put to forced labor.

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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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The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing;
    but the soul of the diligent will 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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Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;
    but much increase is 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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26 He who labors, labors for himself,
    for his mouth craves it of him.

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A wise servant will have rule over a son who causes shame,
    and will have part of the inheritance among the brothers.

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He also who is slothful in his work
    is brother to him who is a great waster.

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15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
    and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

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24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bowl,
    and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

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The sluggard will not plow because of the cold;
    therefore he will beg during harvest and have nothing.

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13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

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The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty,
    but of everyone who is hasty only to want.

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17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

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25 The desire of the slothful kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.

26 He covets greedily all the day long,
    but the righteous gives and does not spare.

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13 The slothful man says, “There is a lion without!
    I will be slain in the streets!”

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Saying Six

29 Do you see a man diligent in his business?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

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Saying Twenty-Five

10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.

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