⁴ The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

¹⁵ Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

²⁴ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

⁴ He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

⁵ Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;

⁶ and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;

⁷ and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

¹¹ For thus will be richly supplied to you the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

²⁴ "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.

²⁵ I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'

²⁶ "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.

²⁷ You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

²⁸ Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

³ Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

¹⁰ While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!"

¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.

¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who answer with discretion.

³⁴ So shall your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.

⁴ The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, But the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:

¹¹ So your poverty will come as a robber, And your scarcity as an armed man.