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idle

What does the Bible say about idle? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.

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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.

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.”

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.

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.

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