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[a]Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than he who [boastfully] honors himself [pretending to be what he is not] and lacks bread.
10 
A righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.(A)
11 
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:9 This is the first of many verses in Proverbs that use the “better...than” construction to emphasize contrasting positions.

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

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(A)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(B)

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