20 Bible Verses about Idleness

We urge you, brothers, to admonish those who are idle, cheer up those who are discouraged, and help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn't bother to bring it back to his mouth.

Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands lead to wealth.

The lazy person says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the street!"

The lazy person claims, "There is a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!" The door turns on its hinges as does the lazy person on his bed. The lazy person buries his hand in the dish, but he's too tired to bring it to his mouth again.read more.
The lazy person is wiser in his own opinion than seven men who can give an appropriate response.

In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness and not living according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness among you. We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. read more.
It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. While we were with you, we gave this order: "If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat." We hear that some of you are living in idleness. You are not busy working you are busy interfering in other people's lives! We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed. Yet, don't treat him like an enemy, but warn him like a brother.

At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other people's lives, saying things they should not say.

One of their very own prophets said, "Liars ever, men of Crete, savage brutes that live to eat."

But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

Go to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise. It has no commander, officer, or ruler, but prepares its provisions in the summer and gathers its food in the harvest.

She looks discretely to the affairs of her household, and she is never lazy.

For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness among you. We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

How long will you lie down, lazy man? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and your poverty will come on you like a bandit and your desperation like an armed man.

As vinegar is to the mouth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy person to those who send him.

The diligent will take control, but the lazy will be put to forced labor.

The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing, but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.

The lifestyle of the lazy is like a thorny hedge, but the path taken by the upright is an open highway.

Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.