Proverbs 12:9

9. He that is despised Lowly, little noticed, or lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 18:23. It is a different word from that rendered “despised” in Proverbs 12:8. Perhaps it ( נקלה , nikleh) should be translated ignoble; that is, of birth or family one of the common people.

And hath a servant A sign of wealth and substance.

Is better Better off than he that honoureth himself; affects honour, wealth, nobility, aristocracy, and lacketh bread. The general sentiment is, Better is a man in medium circumstances, who has the means of sustenance under his control, than a nobleman who is in a state of starvation. So Stuart. “Respectable mediocrity is better than boastful poverty.” Speaker’s Commentary. The Septuagint reads the passage thus: “He that is despised and serveth himself;” that is, supports himself by his own labour; which makes a good sense, and is followed by the Vulgate, the Geneva Bible, Muenscher, Zockler, Conant, (“tills for himself,”) and others. The present pointing of the Hebrew does not allow of this reading; but a little alteration of the vowel points does permit it. The points give us the Masoretic or Jewish traditional interpretation nothing more. It is respectable, but not infallible. If the sense of the Septuagint is to be followed, Miller’s form of the words is preferable “is a servant to himself” as being reconcilable with the present Hebrew pointing. The Douay reads: “Better is the poor man that provides for himself than he that is glorious and wanteth bread.”