20 Bible Verses about Idleness

We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"

The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!" As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.read more.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us. For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you, neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;read more.
not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat." For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But you, brothers, don't be weary in doing well. If any man doesn't obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. Don't count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons."

We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end, that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn't eat the bread of idleness.

For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you, neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you; not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

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

The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.