Proverbs 12:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

NIV: Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

NASB: Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.

CSB: Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

NLT: Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.

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

NKJV: Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

Solomon extols the virtue of humility. His contrast here is both humorous and profound. It makes no sense to be arrogant when that attitude leaves you destitute. There is no shame in being humble when your humility is part of your success. In other words, is it better to "be successful" or to "appear successful"? According to passages such as this, it's better to be obscure, meek, and successful than to be a braggart whose reputation goes well beyond his actual accomplishments. The empty boaster stands in sharp contrast to the humble man, and his life is as empty as his boast.

David displayed humility. When Saul's servants told David that Saul wanted him to become his son-in-law, David replied, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?" (1 Samuel 18:23). Although the Lord Jesus was the Son of God, He humbled Himself and became a man (Philippians 2:8). He described Himself as "gentle and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29).

The apostles Peter and John carried apostolic credentials but had no money to give to a beggar. Peter humbly told him, "I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). The apostle Paul displayed humility by identifying himself as the foremost sinner (1 Timothy 1:15).

Proverbs 12 contains a series of contrasts between lifestyles, comparing those who honor God to those who reject His wisdom. The results of those decisions are also compared. This repeats several common themes from the book of Proverbs, such as the self-destructive nature of sin and God's distaste for those who lie.

Proverbs 12 continues Solomon's wise sayings. A large portion of the book of Proverbs includes these short, common sense pieces of advice. After a series of introductions and lessons in chapters 1—9, chapter 10 began a long list of individual statements. In this chapter he continues to contrast the righteous and the wicked, showing that the life of the righteous is far better than the life of the wicked. This pattern will continue, covering the same basic theme, through chapter 15.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.