What does the Bible say about idle?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible warns that idleness wastes God-given time and strength, harms both the idle person and those who depend on them, and stands contrary to faithful stewardship. Proverbs repeatedly links laziness with poverty, decay, and missed opportunities, while commending diligent, wise labor in Proverbs 6:6-11, 14:23, 19:15, 24:30-34, and 31:27. Ecclesiastes 10:18 pictures neglect as a house falling into ruin, and Proverbs 18:9 treats slackness as destructive. Scripture also cautions against idle speech and meddling in Matthew 12:36 and 1 Timothy 5:13. Yet believers pursue diligent work not to earn God’s favor, but in grateful obedience to the grace received in Christ.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Proverbs 19:15
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
- 1 Timothy 5:13
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.
- Matthew 12:36
I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
- Proverbs 31:27
She looks well to the ways of her household, And doesn't eat the bread of idleness.
- Ecclesiastes 10:18
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
- Proverbs 18:9
One who is slack in his work Is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
- Proverbs 12:24
The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, But laziness ends in slave labor.
- Proverbs 24:30-34
[30] I went by the field of the sluggard, By the vineyard of the man void of understanding; [31] Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. [32] Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction: [33] A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep; [34] So shall your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.
- Proverbs 14:23
In all hard work there is profit, But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
- Proverbs 6:6-11
[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; [7] Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, [8] Provides her bread in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. [9] How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: [11] So your poverty will come as a robber, And your scarcity as an armed man.
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