20 Bible Verses about Idleness

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!”
As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
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The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;read more.
not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.

She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest”—
Your poverty will come in like a vagabond
And your need like an armed man.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.

The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.

Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger.