idle hands

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.

²⁴The hand of the strong will rule. But anyone who is neglectful will pay tribute.

²⁷She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.

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. ¹²Now we charge those who act in this way, and we beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work in silence and eat their own bread.

²⁷The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

¹⁸By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.

⁹Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.

²⁸Whoever was stealing, let him now not steal, but rather let him labor, working with his hands, doing what is good, so that he may have something to distribute to those who suffer need.

⁴The neglectful hand has wrought destitution. But the hand of the steadfast prepares riches. He who advances by lies, this one feeds on the wind. For he is the same as one who runs after flying birds. ⁵He who gathers the harvest is a wise son. But he who snores in warm weather is a son of confusion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

⁴Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.

¹⁴And we ask you, brothers: correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, support the sick, be patient with everyone.