Proverbs 22:13

13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.

Proverbs 22:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:13

The slothful [man] saith, [there is] a lion without
Or, "in the street". This he says within himself; or to those who call out to him, and put him on doing the business of his proper calling, whether in the field or elsewhere, which, through his slothfulness, he has a disinclination to; and therefore frames excuses, and suggests this and that difficulty or danger in the way, expressed by a "lion without"; and which shows the folly and weakness of his excuses, since lions do not usually walk in cities, towns, and villages, and in the streets of them, but in woods and mountains; I shall be slain in the streets;
by the lion there; or I shall never be able to get over the difficulties, and through the dangers, which attending to business will expose me to. Some apply this to the difficulties that slothful persons imagine in the learning of languages, arts, and sciences; as Jarchi applies it to the learning of the law.

Proverbs 22:13 In-Context

11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.

12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises words.

13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.

14 The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.

15 Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are far from him.