Bible Verses About Laziness – Christianity FAQ

Proverbs 13:4

ESV	The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
KJV	The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
NASB	The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
NIV	A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
NLT	Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

Colossians 3:23

ESV	Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
KJV	And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
NASB	Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
NIV	Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
NLT	Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Proverbs 10:4

ESV	A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
KJV	He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
NASB	Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
NIV	Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
NLT	Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

“It is not that doing nothing is of itself so wicked; it is the opportunity it affords to evil and empty thoughts; it is the wide door it opens for Satan to throw in the seeds of bad things; it is this which is mainly to be feared.” ~ J.C. Ryle

2 Thessalonians 3:10

ESV	For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
KJV	For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
NASB	For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
NIV	For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
NLT	Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

“One of the most serious threats to the human spirit is boredom. Boredom is the breeding ground for wickedness. Bored people are easy targets of the flesh and the Devil. It is like putting a bull’s-eye on your chest with a sign: “Tempt me. I’m easy!” Why? Because boredom is contrary to the natural, God-given impulse for fascination, excitement, pleasure, and exhilaration.” ~ Sam Storms

Proverbs 18:9

ESV	Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
KJV	He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
NASB	He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
NIV	One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
NLT	A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.

1 Timothy 5:8

ESV	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.
KJV	But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
NASB	But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
NIV	Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
NLT	But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Proverbs 21:25

ESV	The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
KJV	The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
NASB	The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;
NIV	The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
NLT	Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

Proverbs 20:4

ESV	The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
KJV	The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
NASB	The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
NIV	Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
NLT	Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

Proverbs 20:13

ESV	Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
KJV	Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
NASB	Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.
NIV	Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.
NLT	If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

Proverbs 19:15

ESV	Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.
KJV	Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
NASB	Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
NIV	Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
NLT	Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

Proverbs 12:24

ESV	The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
KJV	The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
NASB	The hand of the diligent will rule, But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
NIV	Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
NLT	Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.