Proverbs 12:9 
Context| NETBible | Better is a person of humble standing 1 who nevertheless has a servant, 2 than one who pretends to be somebody important 3 yet has no food. |
| NIV © biblegateway Pro 12:9 |
Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. |
| NASB © biblegateway Pro 12:9 |
Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread. |
| NLT © biblegateway Pro 12:9 |
It is better to be a nobody with a servant than to be self–important but have no food. |
| MSG © biblegateway Pro 12:9 |
Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process. |
| BBE © SABDAweb Pro 12:9 |
He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread. |
| NRSV © bibleoremus Pro 12:9 |
Better to be despised and have a servant, than to be self-important and lack food. |
| NKJV © biblegateway Pro 12:9 |
Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself but lacks bread. |
[+] More English
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| KJV | |
| NASB © biblegateway Pro 12:9 |
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| LXXM | |
| NET [draft] ITL | |
| HEBREW | |
| NETBible | Better is a person of humble standing 1 who nevertheless has a servant, 2 than one who pretends to be somebody important 3 yet has no food. |
| NET Notes |
1 tn Heb “one who is lightly regarded.” The verb קָלָה (qalah) means “to be lightly esteemed; to be dishonored; to be degraded” (BDB 885 s.v.). 2 tn The meaning of the phrase וְעֶבֶד לוֹ (vÿ’eved lo) is ambiguous; the preposition is either possessive (“has a servant”) or a reflexive indirect object (“is a servant for himself”; cf. NAB, TEV). Several versions (LXX, Vulgate, Syriac) read “and yet has a servant.” 3 tn Heb “who feigns importance.” The term מְתַכַּבֵּד (mÿtakkabed, 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 (BDB 458 s.v. כָּבֵד Hitp.2). 3 sn 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. |


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