Bible Verses About Idleness: General references

Till when, O slothful one, dost thou lie? When dost thou arise from thy sleep?

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

And thy poverty hath come as a traveller, And thy want as an armed man.

Poor is he who is working--a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Whoso is gathering in summer is a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest is a son causing shame.

Near the field of a slothful man I passed by, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart.

And lo, it hath gone up--all of it--thorns! Covered its face have nettles, And its stone wall hath been broken down.

A little sleep--a little slumber--A little folding of the hands to lie down.

And thy poverty hath come as a traveller, And thy want as an armed man!

The slothful hath said, `A lion is in the way, A lion is in the broad places.'

The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.

The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.

Wiser is the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven men returning a reason.

And about the eleventh hour, having gone forth, he found others standing idle, and saith to them, Why here have ye stood all the day idle?

they say to him, Because no one did hire us; he saith to them, Go ye--ye also--to the vineyard, and whatever may be righteous ye shall receive.

`And another came, saying, Sir, lo, thy pound, that I had lying away in a napkin;

for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

`And he saith to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, evil servant: thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow!

and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it?

`And to those standing by he said, Take from him the pound, and give to him having the ten pounds--

(and they said to him, Sir, he hath ten pounds) --

for even when we were with you, this we did command you, that if any one is not willing to work, neither let him eat,

for we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working,