⁶Lazy people should learn a lesson from the way ants live. ⁷They have no leader, chief, or ruler, ⁸but they store up their food during the summer, getting ready for winter. ⁹How long is the lazy man going to lie in bed? When is he ever going to get up? ¹⁰^*“I’ll just take a short nap,” he says; “I’ll fold my hands and rest a while.” ¹¹^*But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.

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Cross references

*6.10, 11: Pr 24:33, 34
*6.10, 11: Pr 24:33, 34

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise 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 want like an armed man.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

yet it stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest.

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

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 on you like a thief

and scarcity like an armed man.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Go to the ant, you slacker!

Observe its ways and become wise.

Without leader, administrator, or ruler,

it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food during harvest.

How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

and your poverty will come like a robber,

your need, like a bandit.

NLTNew Living Translation

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.

Learn from their ways and become wise!

Though they have no prince

or governor or ruler to make them work,

they labor hard all summer,

gathering food for the winter.

But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?

When will you wake up?

A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;

scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Go to the ant, lazy!

Consider its ways and be wise.

It has no chief,

officer, or ruler.

In the summer, it prepares its food;

in the harvest, it gathers its sustenance.

How long will you lie down, lazy?

When will you rise up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands for rest—

like a robber shall your poverty come,

and what you lack like an armed man.

KJV 1900King James Version

Go to the ant, thou sluggard;

Consider her ways, and be wise:

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Provideth her meat in the summer,

And gathereth her food in the harvest.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?

When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth,

And thy want as an armed man.

Public Domain