VERSE STUDY • KJV

Proverbs 31:1-9

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. ² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? ³ Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. ⁴ [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: ⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. ⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. ⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. ² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? ³ Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. ⁴ [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: ⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. ⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. ⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹ These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: ² What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? ³ Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, ⁵ lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. ⁶ Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. ⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. ⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

WEB World English Bible

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him. ² “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows! ³ Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’ ⁵ lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted. ⁶ Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul: ⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. ⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

ASV American Standard Version

¹ The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him. ² What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? ³ Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink? ⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted. ⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul: ⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. ⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. ⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹ Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him: ² ‘What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? ³ Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings. ⁴ Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink. ⁵ Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction. ⁶ Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul, ⁷ He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again. ⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change. ⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!’

Surrounding context — Proverbs 31

1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

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