Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
A bowl of vegetables with someone you love
is better than steak with someone you hate.