What is the meaning of Proverbs 20:13? Do not love sleep “Do not love sleep” (Proverbs 20:13a) warns against treating rest as an indulgence rather than a refreshment. • Proverbs 6:9-11 and 24:33-34 picture the sluggard folded in bed while poverty creeps in like an armed robber; the same theme appears in 19:15 and 10:4. • Scripture prizes diligence (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:23-24). • Sleep is a gift (Psalm 127:2), yet loving it—making it a priority over God-given work—twists the gift into an idol. • The verse cautions the heart first, because affection directs behavior (Matthew 6:21). or you will grow poor “or you will grow poor” (Proverbs 20:13a) states the inevitable outcome of habitual laziness. • Proverbs 13:4 contrasts the sluggard’s empty appetite with the diligent soul’s abundance. • 23:21 ties drowsiness to rags, showing how wasteful habits drain resources. • Second Thessalonians 3:10 sets a clear principle: “If anyone is unwilling to work, neither shall he eat.” • Poverty here is both material and spiritual; neglecting vocation dulls skills, diminishes witness, and restricts generosity (Ephesians 4:28). open your eyes “open your eyes” (Proverbs 20:13b) pictures alertness and initiative. • Proverbs 31:27 commends the noble wife who “watches over the affairs of her household” instead of eating “the bread of idleness.” • 22:29 highlights a skilled worker standing before kings; skill comes from observation, learning, and practice. • The expression calls for a mindset that notices opportunity, stewarding the day while it is called today (Psalm 90:12; John 9:4). and you will have plenty of food “and you will have plenty of food” (Proverbs 20:13b) presents the reward God ordinarily grants to diligence. • Proverbs 28:19 and 12:11 link faithful labor in the field to abundant bread; 14:23 adds that “all hard work brings a profit.” • Provision is described as “plenty,” echoing God’s promise to supply needs (Philippians 4:19) and to bless the work of responsible hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). • The verse does not glorify wealth for its own sake; it affirms God’s design that honest effort secures daily bread, enabling contentment and generosity (1 Timothy 6:6-8; 2 Corinthians 9:8). summary Proverbs 20:13 connects attitude to outcome. Cherishing sleep represents a misplaced love that drifts toward poverty, while choosing alert, energetic stewardship invites God-given abundance. The proverb upholds a life of disciplined, purposeful labor, trusting the Lord to honor diligence with sufficient provision. |
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