Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 30:22

"For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;" — Proverbs 30:22 (ASV)

For a servant when he reigneth.— The mischief done by Eastern favourites at court, who often began life as slaves, was proverbial.

A fool (nâbhâl) .—See above, on Proverbs 17:7. It is only when he has to work hard for his living that he will behave himself decently; if he gets a little money, it will soon be wasted in idleness and self-indulgence.