Proverbs 12:9
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12:9Better is a person of humble standing23 who nevertheless has a servant,24
than one who pretends to be somebody important25 yet has no food.
Footnotes
- 23 Heb “one who is lightly regarded.” The verb קָלָה (qalah) means “to be lightly esteemed; to be dishonored; to be degraded” ( 885 ).
- 24 The meaning of the phrase וְעֶבֶד לוֹ (vé’eved lo) is ambiguous; the preposition is either possessive (“has a servant”) or a reflexive indirect object (“is a servant for himself”; cf. , ). Several versions (, , ) read “and yet has a servant.”
- 25 Heb “who feigns importance.” The term מְתַכַּבֵּד (métakkabed, from כָּבֵד, caved, “to be weighty; to be honored; to be important”) is an example of the so-called “Hollywood” Hitpael which describes a person putting on an act ( 458 כָּבֵד Hitp. 2). This individual lives beyond his financial means in a vain show to impress other people and thus cannot afford to put food on the table.
The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
NIVNew International Version (2011)
Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
CSBChristian Standard Bible
Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
than to be self-important but have no food.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
It is better to be lowly and a servant to someone
than self-glorifying and lacking food.
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better
Than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
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