But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: