Bible Verses About Slothfulness: General references

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.

How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

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.

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.

The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.

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.

The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.

The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”

For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

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:

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.