What does the Bible say about idleness?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• 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.

• Proverbs 19:15

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

• Ecclesiastes 10:18

  By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

• Proverbs 31:27

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

• Proverbs 13:4

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

• 2 Thessalonians 3:10

  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."

• 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 12:24

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

• 2 Thessalonians 3:11

  For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies.

• Proverbs 18:9

  One who is slack in his work Is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

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