Proverbs 31:3-9
English Standard Version
3 Do (A)not give your strength to women,
your ways to those (B)who destroy kings.
4 (C)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings (D)to drink wine,
or for rulers to take (E)strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and (F)pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the one who (G)is perishing,
and wine to (H)those in bitter distress;[a]
7 (I)let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 (J)Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.[b]
9 Open your mouth, (K)judge righteously,
(L)defend the rights of (M)the poor and needy.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul
- Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away
Proverbs 31:3-9
Common English Bible
3 Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4 It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave[a] strong drink.
5 Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[b]
9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:4 Or where or or
- Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible