“The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes”: This line means that the lazy person “thinks that he is wise” or “calls himself a wise person.” For “wise in his own eyes”, see verse 12.

“Than seven men who can answer discreetly”: “Seven” means “any number of.” “Answer discreetly” is literally “return discretion,” which means to reply or answer with good sense, or prudently.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .