Proverbs 26:16

NETBible

The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation 1  than seven people who respond with good sense. 2 

NIV ©

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

NASB ©

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

NLT ©

Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.

MSG ©

Dreamers fantasize their self-importance; they think they are smarter than a whole college faculty.

BBE ©

The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

NRSV ©

The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem than seven who can answer discreetly.

NKJV ©

The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

KJV
The sluggard
<06102>
[is] wiser
<02450>
in his own conceit
<05869>
than seven men
<07651>
that can render
<07725> (8688)
a reason
<02940>_.
NASB ©
The sluggard
<6102>
is wiser
<2450>
in his own eyes
<5869>
Than
<4480>
seven
<7651>
men who can give
<7725>
a discreet
<2940>
answer
<7725>
.
LXXM
(33:16) sofwterov
<4680> 
A-NSMC
eautw
<1438> 
D-DSM
oknhrov
<3636> 
A-NSM
fainetai
<5316> 
V-PMI-3S
tou
<3588> 
T-GSM
en
<1722> 
PREP
plhsmonh
<4140> 
N-DSF
apokomizontov {V-PAPGS} aggelian
<31> 
N-ASF
NET [draft] ITL
The sluggard
<06102>
is wiser
<02450>
in his own estimation
<05869>
than seven
<07651>
people who respond
<07725>
with good sense
<02940>
.
HEBREW
Mej
<02940>
ybysm
<07725>
hebsm
<07651>
wynyeb
<05869>
lue
<06102>
Mkx (26:16)
<02450>
NETBible

The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation 1  than seven people who respond with good sense. 2 

NET Notes

1 tn Heb “in his eyes.” The lazy person thinks that he has life all figured out and has chosen the wise course of action – but he is simply lazy. J. H. Greenstone says, for example, “Much anti-intellectualism may be traced to such rationalization for laziness” (Proverbs, 269).

2 tn The term means “taste; judgment.” The related verb means “to taste; to perceive,” that is, “to examine by tasting,” or examine by experiencing (e.g., Ps 34:9). Here the idea is expressed with the participle in construct, “those returners [of] good sense,” those who answer tastefully, with discretion. Cf. NIV “who (+ can NRSV) answer discreetly.”