But you must require ¹  of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. ²  Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. ³  That is why they are crying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to our God.’

And besides that, going around ¹  from house to house they learn to be lazy, ²  and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not. ³ 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; ¹  observe its ways and be wise!

The one who ¹  is slack ²  in his work is a brother ³  to one who destroys. ⁴ 

Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.

“‘See here – this was the iniquity ¹  of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help ²  the poor and needy.

A wise child ¹  brings joy to his father, but a foolish person ²  despises ³  his mother.

She watches over ¹  the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. ² 

Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil ¹  and chasing the wind.

They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt sacrifices to the Lord’s temple.

You complacent ¹  women, get up and listen to me! You carefree ²  daughters, pay attention to what I say!

In a year’s time ¹  you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape ²  harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive.

All their watchmen ¹  are blind, they are unaware. ²  All of them are like mute dogs, unable to bark. They pant, ³  lie down, and love to snooze.

Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹  admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.

For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline ¹  among you,

For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, ¹  not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. ² 

so that you may not be sluggish, ¹  but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, ¹  those who think to themselves, ²  ‘The Lord neither rewards nor punishes.’ ³