19 Bible Verses about Procrastination

Most Relevant Verses

Proverbs 6:2

You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth.

Proverbs 6:4

Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

Ecclesiastes 11:3-4

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be. He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap.

Proverbs 6:6-8

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.

Exodus 22:29

You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of the outflow of your presses: the firstborn of your sons shall you give unto me.

Deuteronomy 23:21

When you shall vow a vow unto the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it: for the LORD your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin to you.

Proverbs 15:19

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

Proverbs 22:13

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

Proverbs 26:13-15

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.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

When you vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay that which you have vowed.

Matthew 8:21-22

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 25:1-12

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:read more.
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Luke 9:59-62

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, who are at home at my house.read more.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:16-22

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,read more.
Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

2 Corinthians 8:10-14

And in this I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to desire a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not.read more.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

Jeremiah 13:16

Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.

From Thematic Bible


Procrastination » To be avoided in » Performance of vows

Ecclesiastes 5:4

When you vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay that which you have vowed.

Deuteronomy 23:21

When you shall vow a vow unto the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it: for the LORD your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin to you.

Procrastination » Danger of, illustrated

Matthew 5:25

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

Luke 13:25

When once the Master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know not where you come from:

Procrastination » Saints avoid

Psalm 119:60

I made haste, and delayed not to keep your commandments.

Procrastination » Causes of » Family cares

Luke 9:61

And another also said, Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, who are at home at my house.

Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The present the accepted time

Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The present the best time

Procrastination » To be avoided in » Glorifying God

Jeremiah 13:16

Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.

Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The uncertainty of life

Procrastination » Causes of » Worldly entanglements

Genesis 19:16

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him outside the city.

Procrastination » Exemplified

Genesis 19:16

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him outside the city.

Procrastination » To be avoided in » Keeping God's commandments

Psalm 119:60

I made haste, and delayed not to keep your commandments.

Procrastination » To be avoided in » Making offerings to God

Exodus 22:29

You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of the outflow of your presses: the firstborn of your sons shall you give unto me.

Procrastination » To be avoided in » Hearkening to God

Psalm 95:7-8

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if you will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of trials in the wilderness:

Procrastination » Instances of » Elisha

1 Kings 19:20-21

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to you? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Procrastination » Condemned by Christ

Luke 9:59-62

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, who are at home at my house. read more.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Procrastination » To be avoided in » Seeking God

Procrastination » Exemplified » Felix

Procrastination » Causes of » Personal convenience

Procrastination » Causes of » Unbelief

Acts 17:32

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear you again of this matter.

Procrastination » Instances of » Pharaoh

Exodus 8:10

And he said, Tomorrow. And he said, Be it according to your word: that you may know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

Procrastination » Instances of » Esther

Esther 5:8

If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.

Salvation » Neglect of » Procrastination

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