100 Bible Verses about Lateness

Proverbs 10:5 ESV / 174 helpful votes

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV / 173 helpful votes

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV / 136 helpful votes

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Proverbs 20:4 ESV / 131 helpful votes

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Matthew 25:1-13 ESV / 128 helpful votes

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ...

Romans 13:11 ESV / 118 helpful votes

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV / 81 helpful votes

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Luke 12:35-40 ESV / 65 helpful votes

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. ...

1 Corinthians 7:29 ESV / 64 helpful votes

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,

Revelation 3:20 ESV / 53 helpful votes

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

John 11:9-10 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 41 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 4:4 ESV / 33 helpful votes

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Proverbs 6:9-11 ESV / 32 helpful votes

How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise 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 want like an armed man.

Romans 5:6 ESV / 28 helpful votes

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 26 helpful votes

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

Matthew 24:42-44 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Ecclesiastes 8:6 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

Luke 13:25 ESV / 20 helpful votes

When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

Proverbs 21:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Revelation 3:11 ESV / 16 helpful votes

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV / 16 helpful votes

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Luke 14:18 ESV / 16 helpful votes

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’

Luke 12:40 ESV / 16 helpful votes

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Proverbs 27:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Revelation 22:12 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 3:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation 3:2-3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

John 7:8 ESV / 12 helpful votes

You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”

John 7:6-8 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”

Proverbs 6:6-11 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ...

Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

James 4:14 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Proverbs 6:10-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

John 7:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.

Revelation 22:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22:7 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

2 Peter 3:8-10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

John 11:21 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

John 7:30 ESV / 8 helpful votes

So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

Proverbs 6:4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;

Matthew 24:35 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Acts 2:1-47 ESV / 5 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

John 14:1-31 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ...

John 7:53-8:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

[[They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. ...

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Proverbs 10:4-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Psalm 119:89 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Revelation 18:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,

Revelation 12:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Revelation 2:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

James 2:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 10:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;

Hebrews 10:36-37 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Ephesians 6:1-24 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ...

Ephesians 5:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:11-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Ephesians 5:11-14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Acts 20:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

John 16:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 11:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:21-32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ...

John 11:21-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

John 11:21-30 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ...

John 9:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

John 8:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

John 5:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

Luke 14:18-20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

Luke 13:25-27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

Luke 13:24-28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

Luke 12:54-56 ESV / 4 helpful votes

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Matthew 24:48-50 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

Matthew 24:45-51 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, ...

Matthew 5:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Habakkuk 2:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

Proverbs 21:25-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Proverbs 21:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

Proverbs 19:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

1 John 4:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

2 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.

John 17:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

John 13:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

John 10:35 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—

John 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Mark 16:9-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

[[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. ...

Matthew 25:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

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