King James Version

Proverbs 12:9

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

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Hebrew

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ט֣וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…נִ֭קְלֶהniqlehbaseקָלָהverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “base”, a verb used as a describing wordH7034to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only (be (causatively, hold) in contempt)base, contemn, despise, lightly esteem, set light, seem vile.וְעֶ֣בֶדveevedand servantעֶבֶדconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and servant”, the ordinary formH5650a servant[idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.ל֑וֹlvotoל֑וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toמִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗דmimtakabedfrom be chargeableכָּבַדpreposition, verb, hithpael, participle, absolute — “from be chargeable”, a verb used as a describing wordH3513to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses)abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, [idiom] be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in…וַחֲסַרvachasarand destituteחָסֵרconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “and destitute”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2638lacking; hence, withoutdestitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.לָֽחֶםlachembreadלֶחֶםnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “bread”, the ordinary formH3899food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)(shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that playeth the man of rank, and lacketh bread.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

Young’s Literal Translation

Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.

World English Bible

Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

Darby Translation

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

Douay-Rheims

Better is the poor man that provideth for himself, than he that is glorious and wanteth bread.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that playeth the man of rank, and lacketh bread.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Better is a man in dishonour serving himself, than one honouring himself and wanting bread.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Κρείσσων ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ, ἢ τιμὴν ἑαυτῷ περιτιθεὶς καὶ προσδεόμενος ἄρτου.