King James Version

Proverbs 16:19

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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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,…שְׁפַלshefalbaseשָׁפָלverb, qal, infinitive construct — “base”, the to-form of the verbH8217depressed, literally or figurativelybase(-st), humble, low(-er, -ly).ר֭וּחַruchaangerרוּחַnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).אֶתetamongאֵתpreposition — “among”H854properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.ענייםnyymafflictedעָנִיadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “afflicted”, the ordinary formH6041depressed, in mind or circumstancesafflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.עֲנָוִ֑יםanavimhumbleעָנָוadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “humble”, the ordinary formH6035depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)humble, lowly, meek, poor. Compare H6041 (עָנִי).מֵֽחַלֵּ֥קmechaleqfrom separate selfחָלַקpreposition, verb, piel, infinitive construct — “from separate self”, the to-form of the verbH2505to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separatedeal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-) part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er).שָׁ֝לָ֗לshalalpreyשָׁלָלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “prey”, the ordinary formH7998bootyprey, spoil.אֶתetamongאֵתpreposition — “among”H854properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.גֵּאִֽיםgeimproudגֵּאֶהadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “proud”, the ordinary formH1343lofty; figuratively, arrogantproud.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the humble, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Young’s Literal Translation

Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

World English Bible

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Darby Translation

Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the meek, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Douay-Rheims

It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the humble, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Better is a meek-spirited man with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Κρείσσων πρᾳΰθυμος μετὰ ταπεινώσεως, ἢ ὃς διαιρεῖται σκῦλα μετὰ ὑβριστῶν.