Proverbs 12:9 — Bible Verse (KJV)

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

Proverbs 12:9 — King James Version (KJV), 1611

Proverbs 12:9 in 6 Bible Translations

Read Proverbs 12:9 in the King James Version (KJV) and 5 other free, public-domain translations side by side.

Proverbs 12:9 WEB — World English Bible (2000)

“Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread.”

Proverbs 12:9 — World English Bible

Proverbs 12:9 ASV — American Standard Version (1901)

“Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread. ”

Proverbs 12:9 — American Standard Version

Proverbs 12:9 YLT — Young's Literal Translation (1862)

“Better <FI>is<Fi> the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.”

Proverbs 12:9 — Young's Literal Translation

Proverbs 12:9 DBY — Darby Translation (1890)

“Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. ”

Proverbs 12:9 — Darby Translation

Proverbs 12:9 GEN — Geneva Bible (1599)

“He that is despised, and is his owne seruant, is better then he that boasteth himselfe and lacketh bread.”

Proverbs 12:9 — Geneva Bible

Proverbs 12:9 in Context — Proverbs 12

7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

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

10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

Read the full chapter: Proverbs 12 →

What Does Proverbs 12:9 Mean?

Proverbs 12:9 is a verse from the Book of Proverbs, part of the Old Testament. It appears in Proverbs chapter 12. Use The Living Sword's word-by-word study mode to explore every word in the original Hebrew and Aramaic.

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