6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

11 and poverty will come on you like a thief

and scarcity like an armed man.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

7 Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

8 she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man.

6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.

Learn from their ways and become wise!

7 Though they have no prince

or governor or ruler to make them work,

8 they labor hard all summer,

gathering food for the winter.

9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?

When will you wake up?

10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;

scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

6 Go watch the ants, you lazy person.

Watch what they do and be wise.

7 Ants have no commander,

no leader or ruler,

8 but they store up food in the summer

and gather their supplies at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you lazy person?

When will you get up from sleeping?

10 You sleep a little; you take a nap.

You fold your hands and lie down to rest.

11 So you will be as poor as if you had been robbed;

you will have as little as if you had been held up.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard;

Consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no chief,

Overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her bread in the summer,

And gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?

When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as a robber,

And thy want as an armed man.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise: 7 which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 8 provideth her bread in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long, sluggard, wilt thou lie down? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest! 11 So shall thy poverty come as a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.

6 Consider the ant, you lazy bum. 

Watch its ways, and become wise. 

7 Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler, 

8 in summertime it stores its food supply. 

At harvest time it gathers its food. 

9 How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? 

When will you get up from your sleep? 

10 “Just a little sleep, 

just a little slumber, 

just a little nap.” 

11 Then your poverty will come ⸤to you⸥ like a drifter, 

and your need will come ⸤to you⸥ like a bandit. 

6 Go to the ant, you slacker!

Observe its ways and become wise.

7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler,

8 it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food during harvest.

9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

11 and your poverty will come like a robber,

your need, like a bandit.

6 Go to the ant, you lazybones;

consider its ways, and be wise.

7 Without having any chief

or officer or ruler,

8 it prepares its food in summer,

and gathers its sustenance in harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, O lazybones?

When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want, like an armed warrior.

6 Go to the ant, lazy!

Consider its ways and be wise.

7 It has no chief,

officer, or ruler.

8 In the summer, it prepares its food;

in the harvest, it gathers its sustenance.

9 How long will you lie down, lazy?

When will you rise up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands for rest—

11 like a robber shall your poverty come,

and what you lack like an armed man.

6 You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant!

Consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander.

It has no leader or ruler.

8 But it stores up its food in summer.

It gathers its food at harvest time.

9 You lazy people, how long will you lie there?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 You might sleep a little or take a little nap.

You might even fold your hands and rest.

11 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you.

You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no chief,

Officer or ruler,

8 Prepares her food in the summer

And gathers her provision in the harvest.

9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

10 “A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to rest”—

11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond

And your need like an armed man.