Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Wasting Time?

Here are 15 Bible verses about wasting time, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

  1. #1Ephesians 5:16-17

    Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

    BSBredeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

  2. #2Colossians 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,

  3. #3Proverbs 6:9-11

    How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 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.

    BSBHow 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.

  4. #4Psalms 90:12

    So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

    BSBSo teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

  5. #5Ecclesiastes 3:1

    To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

    BSBTo everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

  6. #6James 4:14

    Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

    BSBYou do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

  7. #7Proverbs 6:6-8

    Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

    BSBWalk 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.

  8. #8Colossians 4:5-6

    Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

    BSBAct wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

  9. #91 Corinthians 6:19-20

    What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

    BSBDo you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

  10. #10Ephesians 4:28

    Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

    BSBHe 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.

  11. #11Hosea 10:12

    Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

    BSBSow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.

  12. #121 Peter 4:3

    For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

    BSBFor you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

  13. #13Ephesians 5:15-17

    See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

    BSBPay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

  14. #14Proverbs 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.

  15. #15Proverbs 26:14

    As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

    BSBAs a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

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