Proverbs 26:16 English Standard Version (ESV) The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

My guess would be that this verse in proverbs is rarely quoted. A few days ago I mentioned that we all need to be careful of following the dog that has no sense of what he is chasing. They bark loud and appear confident.

This proverb seems to be insulting. Is it insulting to answer sensibly? No, of course not, but it isn’t going to change the mind of the loud and proud. Neither is it comely to bark back loudly.

Proverbs 15:1 English Standard Version (ESV) A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

I have seen this quote many times but had not connected it to Proverbs 26:16 until just now. As I looked into the word used for sluggard in 26:16 I discovered that it is actually a variant spelling in the Hebrew. The primary definition is indolent. The modern definition of indolent leads us to the understanding that the indolent want to avoid activity or exertion. In this case they have not challenged what they have been told because it is not in their nature.

In terms of the hound, their only recourse to reason is to bark louder. You cannot reason with a hound that has been bred to be louder. The volume of error does not make for truth. The real issue in this case is to understanding the breeding cycle. It is not the hounds fault that he was bred to howl.

Romans 1:21-22 (ESV) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

They were allowed to breed, which is why we encounter the indolent.