Proverbs 12:9 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.

English ASV

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

English Amplified

Better is he who is lightly esteemed but works for his own support than he who assumes honor for himself and lacks bread.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Better is he who is lightly esteemed but works for his own support than he who assumes honor for himself and lacks bread.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

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

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

It is better to be a humble person who has a servant than a proud person who has no food to eat.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

It is better to appear unimportant and have a servant than to pretend to be important and have no food.

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

English GNT (Good News Translation)

It is better to be an ordinary person working for a living than to play the part of someone great but go hungry.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Better to be unimportant and have a slave than to act important and have nothing to eat.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Better to be dishonored, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Better is he who is despised and yet has a servant than he who honors himself and yet has no bread.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

Better a lowly man who supports himself than one of assumed importance who lacks bread.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Being nobody and having a servant is better than pretending to be somebody and having no food.

English NIV

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

English NKJ 1982

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

English NLT

It is better to be a nobody with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Better to be despised and have a servant, than to be self-important and lack food.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

Just be who you are and work hard for a living, for that’s better than pretending to be important and starving to death.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Better is a man of humble standing who works for himself than one who plays the great man but lacks bread.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

It is better to get your hands dirty—and eat, than to be too proud to work—and starve.

English Tyndale 1537

A simple man which laboureth and worketh, is better than one that is gorgeous and wanteth bread.

Proverbs 12:9 — Compare Translations