20 Bible Verses about Idleness

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are idle, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

A slothful man hides his hand in his dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

He becomes poor who has a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

The slothful man says, There is a lion outside, I shall be slain in the streets.

The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hides his hand in his dish; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.read more.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that can answer reasonably.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing; but worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you:read more.
Not because we have not that right, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some who 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. But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

And at the same time they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but gossips also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.

And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her food in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing; but worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you: Not because we have not that right, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.

How long will you sleep, O sluggard? when will you arise out of your sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall your poverty come upon you like a vagabond, and your want like an armed man.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be put to forced labor.

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made a highway.

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.