20 Bible Verses about Idleness

We desire you brethren warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, forbear the weak, have continual patience toward all men.

A slothful body shutteth his hand into his bosom; so that he cannot put it to his mouth.

An idle hand maketh poor; but a quick laboring hand maketh rich.

The slothful body sayeth, "There is a lion without, I might be slain in the street."

The slothful sayeth, "There is a leopard in the way, and a lion in the midst of the streets." Like as the door turneth about upon the threshold, even so doth the slothful welter himself in his bed. The slothful body thrusteth his hand into his bosom, and it grieveth him to put it again to his mouth.read more.
The sluggard thinketh himself wiser than seven men that sit and teach.

We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us. Ye yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: For we behaved not ourselves inordinately among you. Neither took we bread of any man for nought: but wrought with labour and travail night and day, because we would not be grievous to any of you:read more.
not but that we had authority: but to make ourselves an example unto you, to follow us. For when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, that the same should not eat. We have heard say, no doubt, that there are some which walk among you inordinately, and work not at all, but are busybodies. Them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness, and eat their own bread. Brethren, be not weary in well doing. If any man obey not our sayings, send us word of him by a letter: and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed: And count him not as an enemy: but warn him as a brother.

And also they learn to go from house to house idle, yea not idle only, but also trifling and busybodies, speaking things which are not comely.

One being of themselves, which was a poet of their own said, "The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies."

Yea, and we desire that every one of you show the same diligence, to the establishing of hope, even unto the end: that ye faint not, but follow them which through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Go to the Emmet, thou sluggard: consider her ways, and learn to be wise. She hath no guide, no teacher, no leader: yet in the summer she provideth her meat, and gathereth her food together in the harvest.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not her bread with idleness.

Ye yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: For we behaved not ourselves inordinately among you. Neither took we bread of any man for nought: but wrought with labour and travail night and day, because we would not be grievous to any of you: not but that we had authority: but to make ourselves an example unto you, to follow us.

How long wilt thou sleep, thou sluggish man? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yea, sleep on still a little, slumber a little, fold thy hands together yet a little, that thou mayest sleep: so shall poverty come unto thee as one that travaileth by the way, and necessity like a weaponed man.

As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke is to the eyes; even so is a sluggish person to them that sendeth him forth.

A diligent hand shall bear rule; but the idle shall be under tribute.

The sluggard would fain have, and cannot get his desire; but the soul of the diligent shall have plenty.

The way of the slothful is full of thorns; but the street of the righteous is well cleansed.

Slothfulness bringeth sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.