26 Bible Verses about Neglect

Do not neglect the Levites who live in your towns. They have no property of their own.

Remember to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land.

I saw that the Levites had not been given what was needed for their support. So the Levites and the music-makers, who did the work, had gone away, everyone to his field.

Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said: Why has the house of God been given up? I got them together and put them in their places.

He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them: Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the Temple of your God every year. Do it immediately! But the Levites did not do it immediately.

Jehovah of Hosts declares to the priests: Children honor their parents and servants honor their masters. I am your father. Why do you not honor me? I am your master. Why do you not respect me? You despise me, and yet you ask: How have we despised you? This is how you despise me. You offer worthless food on my altar. Then you ask: 'How have we failed to respect you?' I tell you it is by showing contempt for my altar. You bring blind, sick and lame animals to sacrifice to me. Do you think there is nothing wrong with that? Try giving an animal like that to the governor! Would he be pleased with you or grant you any favors?read more.
Try asking God to show you favor. He will not answer your prayer! It will be your fault, Jehovah the Almighty declares. Jehovah of Hosts continues: Is there one among you who will shut the Temple doors to prevent lighting a useless fire on my altar. I am not pleased with you! I will not accept the offerings you bring me. Where ever the sun rises and sets my name will be great among the people of the nations. Incense will be offered to my name everywhere. It will be a pure offering! For my name will be great among the nations, said Jehovah of Hosts. You profane it by saying: 'The table of Jehovah is polluted and the fruit and food on it is contemptible.' And you say: 'We are tired of all this!' You turn up your nose at me. You offer the lame and the sick and even stolen animals, said Jehovah. Do you think I will accept that from you? The cheater who sacrifices a worthless animal to me will be cursed. For he has in his flock a good animal that he promised to give me! I am a great King, Jehovah of Hosts declares. People of all nations will respect my name!

Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovah's tent and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the temple's entrance hall. They extinguished the lamps, and did not burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. Jehovah was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He made them something that shocks and terrifies people and that people ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.read more.
Our fathers were killed in battle. Our sons, daughters, and wives are prisoners because of this.

I am Jehovah of Hosts (All Powerful)! Israel is the vineyard, and Judah is the garden I tended with care. I had hoped for honesty and for justice, but dishonesty and cries for mercy were all I found.

Jehovah said: I will not withdraw punishment for (three sins of Israel, even for four) the many transgressions of Israel! They sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes. They pant after the dust of the earth on the head of lowly (meek) persons. They reject the humble! A man and his father have sexual relations with the same maiden, to profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on clothes taken from indebtedness. In the house of their God they drink the wine they have confiscated.

Hear this word you cows of Bashan who live on the mountain of Samaria. You oppress the poor. You crush the needy. You say to your masters (husbands) (lords), Bring us drink. The Lord Jehovah has sworn by his holiness that the day will come when they will take you away with meat hooks, and those who remain with fish-hooks. You will go out through the holes in the city wall straight before her. You will be thrown into Harmon (a place of exile), said Jehovah.

You who turn justice to wormwood (a curse), and cast righteousness down to the earth seek the creator of the cluster of stars named Pleiades and the star constellation Orion. He turns the shadow of death into morning, and makes the day dark with night. He calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth. Jehovah is his name! He brings sudden destruction upon the strong. Destruction comes upon the fortress.read more.
You hate the one who reproves in the gate, and abhor him who speaks the truth (with integrity). You impose unfair rent on the poor and defraud a tribute of grain from them. You haave built houses of hewn stone yet you will not live in them. You planted pleasant vineyards, but you will not drink the wine from them. I know you have many transgressions and your sins are great. You afflict the righteous. You take bribes. You refuse to help the needy at the gate. The prudent will keep silent for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live. Jehovah, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good! Establish justice in the gate. It may be that Jehovah, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Israel's watchmen are blind. They all lack knowledge they are all mute dogs. They cannot bark. They just lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites. They never have enough! They are shepherds who lack understanding. They all turn to their own way and each one seeks dishonest (unjust) gain. Come, each one cries, let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.

Jehovah continued to speak to me: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them: 'The Lord Jehovah says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Should shepherds take care of the sheep? You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you do not take care of the sheep.read more.
You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those who were sick, or bandaged those who were injured. You have not brought back those who strayed away or looked for those who were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently. They were scattered because there was no shepherd. They became food for every wild animal at the time they were scattered. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered throughout the entire earth. No one searched or looked for them.

Those who are at ease in Zion and are secure in the mountain of Samaria will have trouble. You are the notable men of the foremost nations to whom the house of Israel comes! Travel to Calneh and observe. From there go to the great Hamath. Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better off than these kingdoms? Is their territory greater than your territory? You put far away the evil day and cause the place of violence to come near.read more.
You lie on beds of ivory, and stretch on couches. You eat the the best lambs out of the flock and the fattest calves out of the stall. You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David you improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine in bowls, and anoint yourselves with the finest oils. But you are not grieved because of the affliction of Joseph. Therefore you will be captured with the first that go captive. Your feasting and lounging will pass away.

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the men that are satisfied with their wayward lifestyle. They say in their heart, 'Jehovah will not do good and he will not do evil.' Their wealth will be looted. Their homes will be demolished. They will build houses. However they will not live in them! They will plant vineyards. But they will not drink their wine!

Rise up, you women who are at ease. Hear my voice and pay attention to my word, you complacent daughters. Within a year and some days you will be troubled, O complacent women for the vintage is ended, the fruit gathering will not happen. Tremble you women who are at ease. Be troubled you complacent ones. Undress and put sackcloth on your waist,read more.
Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, For the land of my people where thorns and briars will grow for they are on the delightful houses and the exultant city. Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watchtower have become caves forever. They will be a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks. The Spirit will be poured out upon us from on high. Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field, and the fertile field will be considered a forest.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift in you. It was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone.

Woe to you Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God. You should have done these but you leave them undone.

It is like a man going to another country. He called his servants and put them in charge of his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. He assigned according to the servants' ability. Then he went on his journey. Right away the servant who received the five talents traded with them and made another five talents.read more.
In like manner, he who received the two gained another two. He who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came back to settle with them. The servant who received five talents brought another five talents. He said: 'Lord, here are your five talents, plus the five I gained.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The one who received two talents said: 'Lord you gave me two talents and I gained another two talents.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The servant who received one talent said: 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man. You reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter. I was afraid, so I hid your talent in the earth. See, you have what is yours.' But his lord answered: 'You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. You should have put my money in the bank. I should have received my money back plus interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. More will be given to every one who has and he will have abundance. He who does not have will have every thing taken away. Throw the worthless servant into outer darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth.'

He said: A nobleman traveled to a country far away to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said do business with this until I return. His citizens hated him. They sent a spokesman to him saying we do not want this man to rule us.read more.
He received the kingdom and went back to check on his servants. He wanted to know what they had gained by trading with the money he gave them. The first reported: Your pound has made ten pounds more. He said: Well done, you good servant. You were faithful in very little. Now you shall have authority over ten cities. The second said: Your pound, Lord, has made five pounds. He replied: You should be over five cities. Another reported: Lord, here is your pound. I kept it stored in a napkin. I feared you because you are an austere man. You take up what you do not lay down and you reap that which you did not sow. He said to him: Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow. Why did you not put my money in the bank? That way I could collect interest when I returned. The nobleman said: Take away the pound he was given and give it to him that has the ten pounds. They said: Lord he has ten pounds! I say to you, that every one who has more shall be given. The man who does not have what little he has shall be taken away from him.

Gird your loins (strengthen yourselves) and light your lamps. Be like men looking for their master to return. He will knock when he returns from the marriage feast, and it will immediately be opened to him. Those servants are blessed, for the master will find them alert when he comes. I tell you he will tighten his belt, have them sit down at the table, and he will serve them the meal.read more.
Even if he comes in the second watch or the third and he finds the same his servants are blessed. Know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming he would have watched. He would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You be ready! The Son of man will come at a time when you do not think he will. Peter said: Lord are you speaking this illustration to us or to everyone? The Lord said: Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master shall appoint over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? That servant will be blessed when his master comes and finds him doing so. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all that he has. If that servant says in his heart, my master delays his coming; and beats the other servants and eats and drinks to excess, the master of that servant will come when he does not expect. He will come in an hour that he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. The unfaithful servant who knew what his master wanted and did not do it will be beaten. He who did not know and did things unacceptable will receive a lesser punishment. To whom much is given, much will be required and to whom they commit much they will demand even more.

Pay close attention to the things heard so we do not drift away. If the word spoken through angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward (penalty). How shall we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first presented by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him.read more.
God also testified about it with signs, wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit given according to his will.

Not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and even more, as you see the day approaching.

This was the guilt of your sister Sodom. She and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.

The number of disciples increased at that time. A murmuring arose on the part of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. The twelve called the congregation of the disciples to them. They said: It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God and serve tables. Therefore brothers select seven men who have a good reputation. Men who are full of spirit and wisdom that we may appoint to take care of this business.read more.
We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.