Bible Verses About Laziness

Proverbs 6:6–11

⁶Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. ⁷Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, ⁸it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. ⁹How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? ¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ¹¹and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

KJV⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: ⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, ⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. ⁹How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? ¹⁰Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ¹¹So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 13:4

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

KJVThe soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

KJVAnd what soever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Proverbs 10:4–5

⁴Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. ⁵He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

KJV⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. ⁵He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

KJVThe hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 20:4

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

KJVThe sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

KJVWhatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12

¹⁰For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” ¹¹For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies. ¹²We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

KJV¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. ¹¹For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. ¹²Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Proverbs 21:25–26

²⁵The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. ²⁶All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

KJV²⁵The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. ²⁶He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

KJVAnd let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.