Proverbs 16:19

16:19 It is better to be lowly in spirit ¹  with the afflicted

than to share the spoils ²  with the proud.

Luke 14:8-10

14:8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, ³  do not take ⁴  the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host. ⁵  14:9 So ⁶  the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed, ⁷  you will begin to move to the least important ⁸  place. 14:10 But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host ⁹  approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ ¹⁰  Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.

¹ tn Heb “low of spirit”; KJV “of an humble spirit.” This expression describes the person who is humble and submissive before the Lord and therefore inoffensive. It is always necessary to have a humble spirit, whether there is wealth or not.

² tn Heb “than to divide plunder.” The word “plunder” implies that the wealth taken by the proud was taken violently and wrongfully – spoils are usually taken in warfare. R. N. Whybray translates it with “loot” (Proverbs [CBC], 95). The proud are in rebellion against God, overbearing and oppressive. One should never share the “loot” with them.

³ tn Or “banquet.” This may not refer only to a wedding feast, because this term can have broader sense (note the usage in Esth 2:18; 9:22 LXX). However, this difference does not affect the point of the parable.

⁴ tn Grk “do not recline in the place of honor.” 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

⁵ tn Grk “by him”; the referent (the host) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶ tn Grk “host, and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate this action is a result of the situation described in the previous verse. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁷ tn Or “then in disgrace”; Grk “with shame.” In this culture avoiding shame was important.

⁸ tn Grk “lowest place” (also in the repetition of the phrase in the next verse).

⁹ tn Grk “the one who invited you.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “Go up higher.” This means to move to a more important place.