Chasydyzm do Przysłów 12:9

It is written in the Zohar, Parshat Shlach (166a): "Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion and said, “Better is the man who is lightly esteemed and has a servant than one who primps himself and lacks bread.” (Mishlei, 12:9) One who lacks bread, lacks faith, as it is written (Vayikra, 21:22), ‘the bread of God.’”"²²¹Interestingly enough, this verse is mentioned in the Torah’s discussion of the blemished Cohen, who, though he may not offer sacrifices in the Temple, may nevertheless eat of the sacrifices, the “bread of God.” Deficiency does not prevent man from the connection of faith, to the contrary, it can strengthen it. If a person is whole in his emunah, then his fear and love of God are also whole.²²²We explained above that one who fears God becomes whole in his character traits. Here, we see the reverse: wholeness of faith leads to wholeness of fear. On the other hand, a deficiency in faith would lead to fallen fear, or idolatry. On the other hand, deficiency in emunah is called “heartless.” Of this, the Zohar writes (Kedoshim, 80a): "What is “heartless?” It is one who lacks faith. One who does not learn the Torah has no faith and is thoroughly blemished." Shlomo HaMelech had this in mind when he asked (Mishlei, 17:16), “What is the value of wisdom in the hands of a fool, seeing as he lacks a heart?” Emunah contains the fear of God. When a man has emunah that God is the source and root of all, he then possesses the knowledge that was expressed by the members of the Great Assembly in the prayer, “You, God, existed before the world was created, and You exist after the world was created.”²²³This prayer is found in the introduction to the morning service, in the Adon Olam prayer. That is, from God’s point of view there is no difference between before the world was created and afterward.²²⁴That is, faith is that which transcends the limited vessels with which God created the world, as discussed above.

The verse states,¹⁹⁰Proverbs 12:9 “Better is a lowly one who is His servant, than a pompous one who lacks bread.” The explanation is: There is no greater sign of true service of HaShem, the Creator, blessed is He, than knowing in yourself that you are lowly. Only then have you reached any level at all, and only then are you a servant of HaShem, blessed is He. In contrast, whoever is honorable in his own eyes, “lacks bread,” that is, Divine sustenance.