Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Covetousness » A characteristic of the slothful
He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].
greed » General references to
His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,
But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.
Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
Her priests teach for a fee,
And her prophets foretell for money;
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No tragedy or distress will come on us.”
And the dogs are greedy; they
They are shepherds who have no understanding;
They have all turned to their own way,
Each one to his unlawful gain, without exception.
For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.
He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].
We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.
Laziness » Lazy people
The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives;
So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].
The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition],
But the soul (appetite) of the diligent [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep [unmindful of lost opportunity],
And the idle person will suffer hunger.
The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”
The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him],
But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.
He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction. read more.
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep -- " So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep -- " So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all the day long, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous gives and does not withhold.
The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way! A lion is in the streets! As the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man [move not from his place] upon his bed. The slothful and self-indulgent buries his hand in his bosom; it distresses and wearies him to bring it again to his mouth. read more.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes and conceit than seven men who can render a reason and answer discreetly.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes and conceit than seven men who can render a reason and answer discreetly.