17 Bible Verses on Lazy People

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.

There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.