The Ant

Solomon's proverbs send the lazy person to school with a tiny teacher: 'Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.' With no 'guide, overseer, or ruler,' the ant gathers food in summer and harvest against the lean months ahead. Proverbs 30 counts ants among four small creatures that are 'exceeding wise' - not strong, yet prepared. The ant became a lasting biblical picture of diligence, foresight and quiet, steady work.

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Strongest connections in Scripture

Proverbs 6

Key Passages

Go to the Ant

Proverbs 6:6-11

The ant's steady diligence rebukes the sluggard, whose 'little sleep, a little slumber' leads to poverty.

G⁶o to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

⁷ Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, ⁸ Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. ⁹ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? ¹⁰ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ¹¹ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.