9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.
9 Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process.
9 Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.
9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 12:9
Commentary on Proverbs 12:9
(Read Proverbs 12:9)
He that lives in a humble state, who has no one to wait upon him, but gets bread by his own labour, is happier than he that glories in high birth or gay attire, and wants necessaries.