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Against Sloth

Go to the ant, lazy!
    Consider its ways and be wise.
It has no chief,
    officer, or ruler.
In the summer, it prepares its food;
    in the harvest, it gathers its sustenance.
How long will you lie down, lazy?
    When will you rise up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands for rest—
11 like a robber[a] shall your poverty come,
    and what you lack like an armed man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:11 Literally “one who walks,” that is, a vagabond

A slack hand causes poverty,
    but the hand of the diligent enriches.

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He who gathers in the summer is a child who is prudent;
    he who sleeps at the harvest is a child who brings shame.

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26 Like vinegar to the tooth and like smoke to the eyes,
    thus is the lazy to one who employs[a] him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:26 Or “sends”

11 He who works his land will have plenty of food,
    but he who follows worthless things lacks sense.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:11 Literally “heart”

24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule,
    but the lazy will belong to forced labor.

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27 The lazy will not roast his game,
    but diligence is the precious wealth of a man.

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The soul[a] of the lazy craves, but there is nothing,
    but the person of diligence is richly supplied.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:4 Or “life”

11 Wealth gained from haste[a] will dwindle,
    but he who gathers little by little[b] will increase it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Or “vanity”
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Literally “upon the hand”

When there are no[a] oxen the manger is empty,
    but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:4 Literally “In there is no”
  2. Proverbs 14:4 Hebrew “bull”

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:19 Hebrew “thorn”

26 The life[a] of a worker works for him,
    for his hunger[b] urges him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:26 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 16:26 Literally “mouth”

A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
    and in the midst of brothers he will share his inheritance.

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Even he who is slack in his work,
    he is brother to a master[a] of destruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:9 Or “owner”

15 Laziness will bring on a deep sleep,
    and a person[a] of idleness will suffer hunger.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:15 Or “soul,” or “life”

24 A lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
    and even to his mouth he will not bring it back.

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The lazy person will not plow in season;
    he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.

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13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
    open your eyes and have plenty bread.

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The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance,
    but all who are hasty, only to want.

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17 A man of want is he who loves pleasure;
    he who loves wine and oil[a] will not become rich.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:17 Or “fat”

25 The craving of a lazy person will kill him,
    for his hands refuse to work.[a]
26 All day[b] he craves a craving,
    but the righteous will give and not hold back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:25 Or “make”
  2. Proverbs 21:26 Literally “All the day”

13 A lazy person says “A lion in the street!
    In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!”

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29 A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see:
    before kings, he will serve;
    he will not serve before the commoners.

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10 If you faint on the day of adversity,
    little is your strength.

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