26 The Book of Fools covered vv. 1–12. This marks the beginning of what may be called the Book of Sluggards (vv. 13–16).
27 Heb “in the broad plazas”; , “in the square.” This proverb makes the same point as 22:13, namely, that the sluggard uses absurd excuses to get out of work. D. Kidner notes that in this situation the sluggard has probably convinced himself that he is a realist and not a lazy person (Proverbs [], ).
28 The comparative “like” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied from context in the translation.
29 The sluggard is too lazy to get out of bed—although he would probably rationalize this by saying that he is not at his best in the morning. The humor of the verse is based on an analogy with a door—it moves back and forth on its hinges but goes nowhere. Like the door to the wall, the sluggard is “hinged” to his bed (e.g., Prov 6:9–10; 24:33).
30 The term “turns” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation from the parallelism.
31 Heb “buries” (so many English versions); “hideth”; “loses.”
32 The proverb is stating that the sluggard is too lazy to eat; this is essentially the same point made in 19:24 (see the note there).
33 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).
34 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. “who (+ can ) answer discreetly.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer sensibly.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,

a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

As a door turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who answer discreetly.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—

a lion in the public square!”

A door turns on its hinges,

and a slacker, on his bed.

The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!

In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser

than seven who can answer sensibly.

NLTNew Living Translation

The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!

Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,

so the lazy person turns over in bed.

Lazy people take food in their hand

but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

Lazy people consider themselves smarter

than seven wise counselors.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

A lazy person says “A lion is in the road!

A lion among the streets!”

The door turns on its hinge,

and a lazy person on his bed.

A lazy person buries his hands in the dish;

he is too tired to return it to his mouth.

A lazy person is wiser in his eyes

than seven who answer discreetly.

KJV 1900King James Version

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way;

A lion is in the streets.

As the door turneth upon his hinges,

So doth the slothful upon his bed.

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;

It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit

Than seven men that can render a reason.

Public Domain