Slothfulness: General Scriptures Concerning
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Proverbs 6:6–11
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. / Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, / it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 10:4, 5, 26
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. / He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. / Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.
Proverbs 12:24, 27
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. / A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
Proverbs 15:19
The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 18:9
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
Proverbs 19:15, 24
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger. / The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Proverbs 20:4
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Proverbs 21:25
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Proverbs 22:13
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
Proverbs 24:30–34
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. / Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. / I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
Proverbs 26:13–16
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” / As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. / The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
Ecclesiastes 10:18
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Matthew 25:26, 27
‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. / Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.
Romans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 3:10–12
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” / Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. / We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
Hebrews 6:12
Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.