Translations
KJVPrimary
King James VersionThe sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
F.O.G.Secondary
The F.O.GThe sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with good sense.
F.O.G.M.
F.O.G MessageA lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who can give a sensible answer.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleThe slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Footnotes
Seven is the biblical number of completeness—the sluggard pits himself against perfectly whole, assembled wisdom and finds himself superior in his own estimation. This closes the sluggard section with the same theme as v. 12: self-delusion is the terminus of folly. The *atsel* has not merely refused to work; he has refused to learn. *Meshivei ta'am* (מְשִׁיבֵי טָעַם) means 'those who return discernment'—*ta'am* is taste, judgement, sensible speech. FOG renders it 'good sense'; FOG Message uses 'sensible answer' for clarity.
