Proverbs 20:13
New International Version
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

New Living Translation
If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

English Standard Version
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

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

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

New King James Version
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

New American Standard Bible
Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.

NASB 1995
Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.

NASB 1977
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.

Amplified Bible
Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.”

American Standard Version
Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Contemporary English Version
If you sleep all the time, you will starve; if you get up and work, you will have enough food.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not love sleep or you will end up poor. Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.

Good News Translation
If you spend your time sleeping, you will be poor. Keep busy and you will have plenty to eat.

International Standard Version
Do not love sleep or you'll become poor, keep your eyes open and you'll have plenty of food.

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

NET Bible
Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.

New Heart English Bible
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

Webster's Bible Translation
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thy eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

World English Bible
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, "" Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.

Young's Literal Translation
Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes -- be satisfied with bread.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not love sleep lest thou shalt be dispossessed: open wide thine eyes, being filled with bread.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.

New American Bible
Do not love sleep lest you be reduced to poverty; keep your eyes open, have your fill of food.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Love not sleep test you come to poverty; open your eyes and you shall be satisfied with bread.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, but open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wine is a Mocker
12Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both. 13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food. 14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.…

Cross References
Proverbs 6:9-11
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? / A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, / and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

Proverbs 24:33-34
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, / and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

Matthew 25:26-30
‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. / Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. / Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

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.

Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Proverbs 19:15
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

Proverbs 10:4-5
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. / He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” / For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies. / We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

Ecclesiastes 10:18
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

Matthew 24:42-44
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. / But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. / For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

Luke 21:34-36
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. / For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. / So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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.

Proverbs 12:11
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

love

Proverbs 6:9-11
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? …

Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Proverbs 12:11
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

open

John 1:6
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

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Awake Bread Enough Eyes Food Grow Love Open Plenty Poor Poverty Satisfied Sleep Spare
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Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














Do not love sleep
This phrase warns against excessive sleep, which can lead to laziness and neglect of responsibilities. In biblical times, diligence and hard work were highly valued, as seen in Proverbs 6:9-11, which also cautions against slothfulness. The cultural context of ancient Israel emphasized the importance of labor, especially in an agrarian society where survival depended on the harvest. The admonition here is not against rest, which is necessary and even commanded by God (Exodus 20:8-11), but against the love of sleep that leads to idleness.

or you will grow poor
The consequence of loving sleep is poverty. This reflects the biblical principle that diligence leads to prosperity, while laziness results in lack. Proverbs 10:4 states, "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." In the historical context, poverty was often a result of not working the land or failing to engage in trade. The Bible frequently associates hard work with God's blessing, as seen in the lives of figures like Joseph, whose diligence led to prosperity even in foreign lands (Genesis 39:2-6).

open your eyes
This phrase encourages vigilance and awareness. In a spiritual sense, it can be seen as a call to be alert to God's guidance and opportunities for service. Jesus often used the metaphor of sight to describe spiritual awareness, as in Matthew 13:16, "But blessed are your eyes because they see." In a practical sense, opening one's eyes implies being proactive and ready to seize opportunities for work and provision.

and you will have plenty of food
The promise of plenty of food is a reward for diligence and alertness. In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, food was a direct result of one's labor in the fields. This phrase underscores the biblical principle that God provides for those who are faithful and industrious. It also echoes the promise found in Proverbs 12:11, "Those who work their land will have abundant food." Theologically, it reflects God's provision and care for His people, as seen in the manna provided in the wilderness (Exodus 16) and Jesus' assurance in Matthew 6:26 that God feeds the birds and will surely provide for His children.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical advice for living a life that honors God.

2. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where agricultural and manual labor were common, and diligence was necessary for survival and prosperity.

3. Wisdom Literature
Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible, which includes practical teachings on how to live a life pleasing to God.
Teaching Points
The Dangers of Laziness
Laziness can lead to poverty and lack. The love of sleep symbolizes a broader tendency towards idleness and neglect of responsibilities.

The Call to Diligence
Opening one's eyes is a metaphor for being alert and proactive. Diligence in work and life leads to provision and abundance.

Spiritual Vigilance
Just as physical laziness can lead to poverty, spiritual laziness can lead to a lack of growth and fruitfulness in one's spiritual life.

Balance in Rest and Work
While rest is important, it should not become an idol. Balance is key, ensuring that rest rejuvenates rather than hinders productivity.

Practical Stewardship
Being diligent in our daily tasks is a form of stewardship, honoring God with our time and resources.(13) Open thine eyes.--Be up and stirring.

Verse 13. - Love not sleep lest thou come to poverty (see Proverbs 6:9, etc.). The fate of the sluggard is handled again in Proverbs 23:21, as often before; e.g. Proverbs 12:11; Proverbs 19:15. The LXX., taking שֵׁנָה (shenah), "sleep," as perhaps connected with the verb שְׁנָה (shanah), translate, "Love not to rail, that thou be not exalted (ἵνα μὴ ἐξαρωῇς)," i.e. probably, "Do not calumniate others in order to raise yourself;" others translate, "lest thou be cut off." Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satired with bread. These words seem to connect this clause with ver. 12. God gives the faculty, but man must make due use thereof. The gnomist urges, "Do not slumber at your post, or sit downwardly waiting; but be up and doing, be wakeful and diligent, and then you shall prosper."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

love
תֶּֽאֱהַ֣ב (te·’ĕ·haḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

sleep,
שֵׁ֭נָה (nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8142: Sleep

or
פֶּן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

you will grow poor;
תִּוָּרֵ֑שׁ (tiw·wā·rêš)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

open
פְּקַ֖ח (pə·qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6491: To open, to be observant

your eyes,
עֵינֶ֣יךָ (‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

[and] you will have plenty
שְֽׂבַֽע־ (śə·ḇa‘-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

of food.
לָֽחֶם׃ (lā·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:13 Don't love sleep lest you come (Prov. Pro Pr)
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