The desireof the sluggardputshim to death,For his handsrefuseto work;
The handof the diligentwill rule,But the slack[hand] will be put to forcedlabor.
A lazymandoes not roasthis prey,But the preciouspossessionof a man[is] diligence.
The soulof the sluggardcravesand [gets] nothing,But the soulof the diligentis madefat.
The wayof the lazyis as a hedgeof thorns,But the pathof the uprightis a highway.
The sluggardburieshis handin the dish,[But] will not evenbringit backto his mouth.
The sluggarddoes not plowafterthe autumn,So he begsduring the harvestand hasnothing.
The sluggardsays,"There is a lionoutside;I will be killedin the streets!"
The sluggardsays,"There is a lionin the road!A lionis in the opensquare!"
The sluggardis wiserin his own eyesThansevenmen who can givea discreetanswer.
"But his masteransweredand saidto him, 'You wicked,lazyslave,you knewthat I reapwhereI did not sowand gatherwhereI scatteredno[seed].
They returnedto Joshuaand saidto him, "Do not let allthe peoplegoup; [only] about two orthreethousandmenneed goup to Ai;do not make allthe peopletoilup there,for they are few."
