“Better is he who is little know, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.”
— WEB
Proverbs 12:9
Cited in 1 topic on this site.
Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.
“He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.”
— KJV
“Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.”
— ASV
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Commentary
Note, 1. It is the folly of some that they covet to make a great figure abroad, take place, and take state, as persons of quality, and yet want necessaries at home, and, if their debts were paid, would not be worth a morsel of bread, nay, perhaps, pinch their bellies to put it on their backs, that they may appear very gay, because fine feathers make fine birds. 2. The condition and character of those is every way better who content themselves in a lower sphere, where they are despised for the plainness of their dress and the meanness of their post, that they may be able to afford themselves, not only necessaries, but conveniences, in their own houses, not only bread, but a servant to attend them and take some of their work off their hands. Those that contrive to live plentifully and comfortably at home are to be preferred before those that affect nothing so much as to appear splendid abroad, though they have not wherewithal to maintain their appearance, whose hearts are unhumbled when their condition is low.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)
despised--held in little repute, obscure (Sa1 18:23; Isa 3:5). hath a servant--implying some means of honest living. honoureth himself--is self-conceited.
— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)
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