Proverbs 12:9

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 12:9 tn Heb “one who is lightly regarded.” The verb קָלָה (qalah) means “to be lightly esteemed; to be dishonored; to be degraded” (BDB 885 s.v.).
2. Proverbs 12:9 tn Or “who accomplishes [something] for himself.” This is another possible meaning of the Hebrew underlying the LXX (see below). All of the possible options suggest that this person still has something of their own in contrast to the pretentious person in the second half of the saying.tc The MT reads וְעֶבֶד לוֹ (v^eʿeved lo), which may mean “has a servant” or “is a servant for himself.” The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate and at least one Medieval Hebrew manuscript read the consonants as וְעֹבֵד לוֹ (v^eʿoved lo) “who serves (works for) himself.” The editors of BHS suggest a slight emendation to וַעֲבוּר לוֹ (vaʿavur lo) “and the produce belongs to him.” The meaning produce (cf. Josh 5:11) is a fitting parallel to “food” and the end of the verse, but the suggestion has no textual support.
3. Proverbs 12:9 tn Heb “who makes himself out to be important,” “who feigns importance,” or “to boast.” The verb is a Hitpael participle from כָּבֵד (kaved), “to be weighty; to be honored; to be important”). See BDB 458 s.v. כָּבֵד Hitp.2 and HALOT 456 s.v. כָּבֵד.sn This individual lives beyond his financial means in a vain show to impress other people and thus cannot afford to put food on the table.