What Does the Bible Say About Lazy?

Proverbs 6:9 ESV / 74 helpful votes

How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

James 1:22 ESV / 55 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Proverbs 22:13 ESV / 35 helpful votes

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

Proverbs 10:4 ESV / 34 helpful votes

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 21:25 ESV / 33 helpful votes

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 ESV / 32 helpful votes

For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Proverbs 6:6 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV / 28 helpful votes

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 20:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 20:13 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

Proverbs 22:29 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 26:13-16 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Proverbs 12:27 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV / 18 helpful votes

That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Colossians 3:22-25 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

John 15:7 ESV / 15 helpful votes

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

James 4:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

2 Timothy 2:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Proverbs 10:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Psalm 1:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ...

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Ezra 10:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Numbers 2:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they camp, so shall they set out, each in position, standard by standard.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 Peter 3:1-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ...

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

As we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

Ephesians 3:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Exodus 17:9-14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. ...

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But all things should be done decently and in order.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Psalm 19:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

1 Samuel 2:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.

John 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

That whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Proverbs 6:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Psalm 121:1-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. ...

Psalm 90:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

2 Kings 7:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.”

2 Samuel 17:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Revelation 20:4-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

49 Bible Verses about Lazy

Proverbs 6:9 ESV / 74 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:22 ESV / 55 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 46 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:13 ESV / 35 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:4 ESV / 34 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:25 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:6 ESV / 31 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:13 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:29 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:13-16 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:27 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:22-25 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:7 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 1:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezra 10:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 2:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:1-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 3:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 17:9-14 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 19:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 2:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 121:1-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 90:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Kings 7:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 17:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 20:4-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)