What Does the Bible Say About Lazy?
Here are 19 Bible verses about lazy, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 6:9
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
BSBHow long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
- #21 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
BSBIf anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- #3James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
BSBBe doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
- #4Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
BSBWhatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- #5Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
BSBIdle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- #6Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
BSBWalk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
- #7Proverbs 21:25
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
BSBThe craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
- #82 Thessalonians 3:11-12
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
BSBYet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and 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.
- #9Proverbs 22:13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
BSBThe slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
- #10Proverbs 24:30-34
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
BSBI 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.
- #11Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
BSBThe slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
- #12Proverbs 20:13
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
BSBDo not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
- #13Proverbs 22:29
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
BSBDo you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- #14Proverbs 26:13-16
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
BSBThe 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.
- #15Proverbs 12:27
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
BSBA lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
- #162 Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
BSBso that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
- #17James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
BSBAnyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
- #18Colossians 3:22-25
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
BSBSlaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
- #19John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
BSBIf you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).