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But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
    When will you wake up?

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How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
    When will you rise from your sleep?(A)

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

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26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so are the lazy to their employers.(A)

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

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19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.(A)

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24 Lazy people take food in their hand
    but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

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24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
    and will not even bring it back to the mouth.(A)

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Those too lazy to plow in the right season
    will have no food at the harvest.

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The lazy person does not plow in season;
    harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.(A)

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25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
    for their hands refuse to work.

26 Some people are always greedy for more,
    but the godly love to give!

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25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,
    for lazy hands refuse to labor.(A)
26 All day long the wicked covet,[a]
    but the righteous give and do not hold back.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21.26 Gk: Heb all day long one covets covetously

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!
    If I go outside, I might be killed!”

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13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”(A)

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30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,
    the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
    It was covered with weeds,
    and its walls were broken down.
32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,
    I learned this lesson:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

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30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
    by the vineyard of a stupid person,(A)
31 and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,(B)
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior.

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13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!
    Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
    so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15 Lazy people take food in their hand
    but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter
    than seven wise counselors.

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13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”(A)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a lazy person in bed.
15 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
    and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.(B)
16 The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem
    than seven who can answer discreetly.

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