Proverbs 20:13

Modern

Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

Traditional

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Literal

You should not love sleep, lest you be dispossessed; open your eyes, be satisfied with bread.

Latin

Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.

Hebrew

English

Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

Laziness often results in poverty (see Proverbs 10:4–6, 26; 12:11; 13:4; 14:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4).

Theme notes and profiles

Romans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Proverbs 19:15
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
Proverbs 10:4
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Romans 13:11
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Proverbs 12:11
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
Jonah 1:6
The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
Proverbs 6:9–11
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
Proverbs 24:30–34
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
1 Corinthians 15:34
Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.