Top 25 Bible Verses About Idleness (ESV)

13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

18   Through sloth the roof sinks in,
    and through indolence the house leaks.

15   Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
    and an idle person will suffer hunger.

4   The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

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

11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.

27   She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

24   The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

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

49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.

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

9   Whoever is slack in his work
    is a brother to him who destroys.

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

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

23   In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk tends only to poverty.

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

14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

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

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’

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

28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

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

21   for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and slumber will clothe them with rags.