20 Bible Verses about Idleness

and we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all;

The slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.

Poor is he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

The slothful hath said, 'A lion is without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

The slothful hath said, 'A lion is in the way, A lion is in the broad places.' The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed. The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.read more.
Wiser is the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven men returning a reason.

And we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother disorderly walking, and not after the deliverance that ye received from us, for yourselves have known how it behoveth you to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you; nor for nought did we eat bread of any one, but in labour and in travail, night and day working, not to be chargeable to any of you;read more.
not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us; for even when we were with you, this we did command you, that if any one is not willing to work, neither let him eat, for we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working, and such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness working, their own bread they may eat; and ye, brethren, may ye not be weary doing well, and if any one do not obey our word through the letter, this one note ye, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed, and as an enemy count him not, but admonish ye him as a brother;

and at the same time also, they learn to be idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;

A certain one of them, a prophet of their own, said -- 'Cretans! always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies!'

and we desire each one of you the same diligence to shew, unto the full assurance of the hope unto the end, that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.

Go unto the ant, O slothful one, See her ways and be wise; Which hath not captain, overseer, and ruler, She doth prepare in summer her bread, She hath gathered in harvest her food.

She is watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

for yourselves have known how it behoveth you to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you; nor for nought did we eat bread of any one, but in labour and in travail, night and day working, not to be chargeable to any of you; not because we have not authority, but that ourselves a pattern we might give to you, to imitate us;

Till when, O slothful one, dost thou lie? When dost thou arise from thy sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little clasping of the hands to rest, And thy poverty hath come as a traveller, And thy want as an armed man.

As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So is the slothful to those sending him.

The hand of the diligent ruleth, And slothfulness becometh tributary.

The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.

The way of the slothful is as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

Sloth causeth deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul doth hunger.