idle
What does the Bible say about idle? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
12 passages · most helpful first
15Laziness sends one into a deep sleep, and a dissolute soul will go hungry.
13And being at the same time also idle, they learn to go from house to house, being not only idle, but also talkative and curious, speaking of things which do not concern them.
36But I say to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account in the day of judgment.
27She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
18By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
24The hand of the strong will rule. But anyone who is neglectful will pay tribute.
9Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
30I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man, 31and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed. 32When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline. 33You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest. 34And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
23In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
6Go to the ant, you lazy one, and consider her ways, and so learn wisdom. 7For though she has no ruler, nor instructor, nor leader, 8she provides meals for herself in the summer, and she gathers at the harvest what she may eat. 9How long will you slumber, you lazy one? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10You will sleep a little, you will slumber a little, you will fold your hands a little to sleep, 11and then destitution will meet with you, like a traveler, and poverty, like an armed man. Yet truly, if you would be diligent, then your harvest will arrive like a fountain, and destitution will flee far from you.
11For we have heard that there are some among you who act disruptively, not working at all, but eagerly meddling.
6But we strongly caution you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to draw yourselves away from every brother who is walking in disorder and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know the manner in which you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you. 8Nor did we eat bread from anyone for free, but rather, we worked night and day, in hardship and weariness, so as not to be burdensome to you. 9It was not as if we had no authority, but this was so that we might present ourselves as an example to you, in order to imitate us. 10Then, too, while we were with you, we insisted on this to you: that if anyone was not willing to work, neither should he eat. 11For we have heard that there are some among you who act disruptively, not working at all, but eagerly meddling.