Bible Verses About Idleness

“At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.”

“Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.”

“Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.”

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

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

“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.”

“For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.”

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

“Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.”

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

“There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

“And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.”

“A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.”

“About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked.”

“For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, 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.”

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

“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.”

“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. The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.”

“The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

“The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.”

“About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.”

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

“The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.”

“The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.”

“But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.”

“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

“Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.”

“Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

“The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.”

“Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, 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. But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing. Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. This greeting is in my own hand — Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.”

“Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.”

“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.”

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.”

“For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.”

“We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.”

“As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.”

“He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”

“You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

“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.”

“Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.”

“The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing. That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring. All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony. To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.”

“And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’