Focused Passage

Proverbs 26:16

Fools, Sluggards, Quarrels, Gossip, Deceitful Speech, and the Ruin of Unrestrained Folly

The chapter moves from an extended warning about fools, to the self-deception of sluggards, to the danger of meddling and harmful joking, to gossip as conflict fuel, and finally to the concealed malice of lying and flattering speech.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

The slackerעָצֵ֣לH6102Adjective - masculine singular[is] wiserחָכָ֣םH2450Adjective - masculine singularin his own eyesבְּעֵינָ֑יוH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singularthan seven menמִ֝שִּׁבְעָ֗הH7651Preposition-m | Number - masculine singularwho answerמְשִׁ֣יבֵיH7725Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural constructdiscreetlyטָֽעַם׃H2940Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.