Proverbs 12:9

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. (HE THAT IS) DESPISED, AND HATH A SERVANT, IS BETTER THAN HE THAT HONOURETH HIMSELF, AND LACKETH BREAD. He who is low in pretensions, through lowliness of disposition, and through avoiding ostentatious display, and who at the same time "hath a servant," and therefore hath some means of livelihood, is preferable to him who boasts himself, making a great display, while all the while not having the necessaries of life, through his wasting his money on pomp. The Hebrew for "despised" ( niqleh (H7034)) is distinct from that in Proverbs 12:8 ( buwz (H937)): here the reference is to low estimation not th...

Verse Proverbs 12:9. HE THAT IS _DESPISED, AND HATH A SERVANT_] I believe the _Vulgate_ gives the true _sense_ of this verse: Melior est pauper, et sufficiens sibi; quam gloriosus, et indigens pane. "Better is the poor man who provides for himself, than the proud who is destitute of bread." The versions in general agree in this sense. This needs no comment. There are some who, through _pride of_ _birth_, c., would rather starve, than put their hands to menial labour. Though they may be _lords_, how much to be preferred is the _simple peasant_, who supports himself and family by the drudgery of life!...

Two interpretations are equally tenable; (1) as in the King James Version, He whom men despise, or who is “lowly” in his own eyes (compare 1 Samuel 18:23), if he has a slave, i. e., if he is one step above absolute poverty, and has some one to supply his wants, is better off than the man who boasts of rank or descent and has nothing to eat. Respectable mediocrity is better than boastful poverty. (2) he who, though despised, is a servant to himself, i. e., supplies his own wants, is better than the arrogant and helpless....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 12:1 INSTRUCTION; correction, discipline, which shows a man his faults, gives him a lowly opinion of himself, and opens his mind to receive _knowledge, _especially the knowledge of himself and of all moral obligations. IS BRUTISH; is as insensible to higher aspirations, to regret for the past or hope of amendment, as a brute beast (comp. Proverbs 30:2). On this point St. Augustine is quoted: "Quicumque corripi non vis, ex eo sane corripiendus es quia corripi non vis. Non vis enim tua tibi vitia demonstrari; non vis ut feriantur, fiatque tibi utilis dolor, quo medicum quaeras; non vis tibi tu ipse ostendi, ut cum deformem te vides, reformaturum desideres, eique supplices ne in illa remaneas foeditate

[HE THAT IS] DESPISED, AND HATH A SERVANT,.... Meaning not the same person as before, but one in mean circumstances of life; and because he has not that substance as others have, at least does not make that show and figure in the world as some; and mean in his own eyes, as Jarchi; and does not affect grandeur, and to look greater than he is; has just sufficiency to keep a servant to wait upon him; or, as some render it, is "a servant to himself" p; to this purpose the Septuagint; and so Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, who does his own work at home and abroad, in the house and in the field, and so gets himself a competent living. He [IS] BETTER THAN HE THAT HONOURETH HIMSELF, AND LACKETH BREAD; that boasts of his pedigree, and brags of his wealth; dresses out in fine clothes, keeps a fine equipage, makes a great figure abroad, and has scarce bread to eat at home, and would have none if h...

CHAPTER 12 THE CONTRAST IN RELATION TO VARIOUS CONDITIONS In these proverbs we have the righteous mentioned, his thoughts, his words, his domestic relationship, his attitude toward animal creation Proverbs 12:10); his diligence; all is contrasted with the wicked in these beautiful antithetic expressions of wisdom. The thoughts of the righteous are right Proverbs 12:5), because his heart is right; his words bring deliverance Proverbs 12:6); in speaking truth he showeth forth righteousness Proverbs 12:17); his tongue is health Proverbs 12:1

PROVERBS 12. Here we have a number of proverbs handling the favourite subject of retribution (Proverbs 12:2 f., Proverbs 12:7; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 12:21; Proverbs 12:28). Several deal with speech (Proverbs 12:6; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 12:16;...

HE THAT IS DESPISED, AND HATH. Better to be little noticed and have, &c. BETTER. See note on Proverbs 8:11....

_despised_ Rather, LIGHTLY ESTEEMED, R.V.; a person of no consequence, in the eyes of others, and perhaps (as in 1 Samuel 18:23, the word is used by David of himself) in his own eyes also, in contrast to him who _honoureth himself_. _hath a servant_ Notwithstanding his lowly position he is well enough off to keep a slave. Zebedee, though only a fisherman, had hired servants (Mark 1:20). Another rendering (with a change of Heb. vowel points), _is a servant to himself_, works for his own living, is adopted by the LXX. ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ, and by the Vulg., pauper et subjiciens sibi. Comp. for the sentiment, Sir 10:27 : "Better is he that laboureth and aboundeth in all things, Than he that glorifieth himself and lacketh bread....

HE THAT IS DESPISED, AND HATH A SERVANT, &C.— The passage may be understood; "It is better to be in lowliness and obscurity, and to cultivate one's own little heritage, than to want the necessaries of life, through a foolish vanity, which refuses to labour." It is not labour, but idleness which ought to cause shame. Calmet....