Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. New Living Translation Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food. English Standard Version Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread. Berean Standard Bible Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food. King James Bible He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. New King James Version Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself but lacks bread. New American Standard Bible Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than one who honors himself and lacks bread. NASB 1995 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread. NASB 1977 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than he who honors himself and lacks bread. Legacy Standard Bible Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread. Amplified Bible Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than he who [boastfully] honors himself [pretending to be what he is not] and lacks bread. Christian Standard Bible Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better to be dishonored, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food. American Standard Version Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread. Contemporary English Version It's better to be ordinary and have only one servant than to think you are somebody and starve to death. English Revised Version Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. GOD'S WORD® Translation Better to be unimportant and have a slave than to act important and have nothing to eat. Good News Translation It is better to be an ordinary person working for a living than to play the part of someone great but go hungry. International Standard Version It's better to be unimportant, yet have a servant, than to pretend to be important, but lack food. Majority Standard Bible Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food. NET Bible Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food. New Heart English Bible Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread. Webster's Bible Translation He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoreth himself, and is destitute of bread. World English Bible Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter [is] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, "" Than the self-honored who lacks bread. Young's Literal Translation Better is the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread. Smith's Literal Translation He is good being despised, and a servant to him above him, honoring himself, and wanting bread. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBetter is the poor man that provideth for himself, than he that is glorious and wanteth bread. Catholic Public Domain Version Better is a pauper who has what he needs, than someone glorious and in need of bread. New American Bible Better to be slighted and have a servant than put on airs and lack bread. New Revised Standard Version Better to be despised and have a servant, than to be self-important and lack food. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBetter is a poor man who serves himself than one who is proud and yet lacks bread. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Better is a poor man who waits on himself than one who boasts and lacks bread. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that playeth the man of rank, and lacketh bread. Brenton Septuagint Translation Better is a man in dishonour serving himself, than one honouring himself and wanting bread. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Loving Discipline and Knowledge…8A man is praised according to his wisdom, but a twisted mind is despised. 9Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food. 10A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.… Cross References Proverbs 13:7 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Proverbs 15:16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. Proverbs 19:22 The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Isaiah 32:6-8 For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink. / The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. / But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes. Jeremiah 45:5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.” Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Treasury of Scripture He that is despised, and has a servant, is better than he that honors himself, and lacks bread. despised Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Jump to Previous Better Bread Despised Destitute Esteemed Food Great High Honoreth Honors Honoureth Humble Lightly Low Need Nobody Opinion Playeth Plays Position Pretend Rank Servant Somebody Standing WorksJump to Next Better Bread Despised Destitute Esteemed Food Great High Honoreth Honors Honoureth Humble Lightly Low Need Nobody Opinion Playeth Plays Position Pretend Rank Servant Somebody Standing WorksProverbs 12 1. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledgeBetter to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant This phrase emphasizes the value of humility and practical provision over social status. In ancient Israel, having a servant indicated a certain level of wealth and stability. The cultural context suggests that being "lightly esteemed" refers to not seeking or receiving high social recognition or honor. The Bible often highlights humility as a virtue, as seen in passages like James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." The presence of a servant implies that one's basic needs are met, which is more valuable than mere reputation. than to be self-important but lack food Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical insights into daily living and moral conduct. 2. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where social status and wealth were significant aspects of society. 3. Servant In the context of this proverb, a servant represents a sign of modest wealth and the ability to provide for oneself and others. Teaching Points True Value Over AppearanceThe proverb teaches that it is better to have modest means and be able to provide for oneself than to project an image of importance without substance. This challenges the cultural emphasis on appearances and encourages a focus on genuine provision and humility. Humility and Contentment Emphasizing humility, this verse encourages believers to find contentment in what they have rather than seeking validation through status or possessions. It reminds us that self-importance can lead to emptiness. Practical Stewardship The mention of having a servant implies responsible stewardship of resources. Believers are encouraged to manage their resources wisely, ensuring they can meet their needs and those of others. Warning Against Pride The proverb serves as a warning against pride and the pursuit of status. It encourages believers to evaluate their motivations and ensure they align with godly values rather than societal pressures.(9) He that is despised.--That is, lowly in his eyes and those of others, as David (1Samuel 18:23); if "he hath a servant," that is, if he be in easy circumstances. It has been remarked that "the first necessity of an Oriental in only moderate circumstances is a slave." He that honoureth himself.--Boasts of his pedigree, it may be, and is all the while starving. Verse 9. - This verse may be translated, Better is a man who is lightly esteemed and hath a slave, than he that boasts himself and lacketh bread; i.e. the man who is thought little of by his fellows, and is lowly in his own eyes, if he have a slave to minister to his wants (which all Orientals of even moderate wealth possess), is better off than one who boasts of his rank and family, and is all the while on the verge of starvation. "Respectful mediocrity is better than boastful poverty." Ecclus. 10:27, "Better is he that laboreth and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread." But the words rendered, hath a slave, are literally, a servant to himself. So the Vulgate has, sufficiens sibi, "sufficing himself," and the Septuagint, δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ, "serving himself." And the expression implies attending to his own concerns, supplying his own wants. Hence the gnome means, "It is wiser to look after one's own business and provide for one's own necessities, even if thereby he meets with contempt and detraction, than to be in real want, and all the time assuming the airs of a rich and prosperous man." This latter explanation seems most suitable, as it is not at all clear that, at the time the book was written, the Israelites of moderate fortune kept slaves, and the proverb would lose its force if they did not do so. Says a mediaeval jingle -"Nobilitas morum plus ornat quam genitorum." Hebrew Betterט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good to be lightly esteemed, נִ֭קְלֶה (niq·leh) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7034: To be lightly esteemed or dishonored yet have a servant, וְעֶ֣בֶד (wə·‘e·ḇeḏ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant than to be self-important מִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗ד (mim·mə·ṯak·kab·bêḏ) Preposition-m | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome but lack וַחֲסַר־ (wa·ḥă·sar-) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct Strong's 2638: Needy, lacking, in want of food. לָֽחֶם׃ (lā·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain Links Proverbs 12:9 NIVProverbs 12:9 NLT Proverbs 12:9 ESV Proverbs 12:9 NASB Proverbs 12:9 KJV Proverbs 12:9 BibleApps.com Proverbs 12:9 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 12:9 Chinese Bible Proverbs 12:9 French Bible Proverbs 12:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 12:9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed (Prov. 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