Proverbs 26:13-16

The slothful man saith, &c. “In this and the following verses, three degrees of sloth are represented; the first, when a man is loath to stir out of doors about his business in the field, Proverbs 26:13; the second, when he is loath so much as to leave his bed, Proverbs 26:14; and the third and highest, when he will scarcely put his hand to his mouth, Proverbs 26:15. By which hyperbolical expression the wise man admirably sets forth the incredible laziness of some, which increases upon them continually, if they will not shake it off; and yet, so presumptuous are they withal, that they laugh at those who take a great deal of pains to be wise, and fancy themselves much wiser; because, without any pains, they can find fault sometimes with other men's works.” Dodd. Thus, Proverbs 26:16, the sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Because, by his idleness, he avoids those troubles and dangers to which other men, by their activity, expose themselves, forgetting, in the mean time, what reproach and loss are brought upon him by his slothfulness; than seven men that can render a reason Namely, a satisfactory reason of all their actions, that is, who are truly wise men.