Proverbs Chapter 26 verse 16 Holy Bible
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
read chapter 26 in ASV
The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.
read chapter 26 in BBE
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
read chapter 26 in DARBY
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
read chapter 26 in KJV
read chapter 26 in WBT
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who answer with discretion.
read chapter 26 in WEB
Wiser `is' the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven `men' returning a reason.
read chapter 26 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 16. - The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit. The sluggard is here one who is too idle to think a matter out, and considers his own cursory view as sure to be right. He is one who deems study to be an unnecessary weariness of the flesh (Ecclesiastes 12:12), and flatters himself that he is quite able without it to give a satisfactory account of any question presented to him. Than seven men that can render a reason. "Seven" is the number of completeness (comp. Proverbs 6:31; Proverbs 9:1; Proverbs 24:16). The idle fool sets more value by his own judgment than by the sense of any number of wise men. Revised Version margin, "that can answer discreetly," is perhaps nearer the Hebrew, which implies the being able to return a wise and proper answer to anything asked of them. The LXX. reading a little differently, renders, "Wiser seems a sluggard to himself than one who in satiety (ἐν πλησμονῇ) brings back a message." This is explained to mean that a sluggard thinks himself wise in not helping a neighbour with an errand or a message, though he would have probably been repaid with a good dinner for his kindness.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Seven men.--A round number. (Comp. Proverbs 26:25; Proverbs 6:31; Proverbs 24:16.)That can render a reason--i.e., give a sensible judgment on any matter submitted to them.