Proverbs 31:3-9
Lexham English Bible
3 Do not give your strength to the women,
and your ways to destroy kings.
4 It is not for the kings, O Lemuel;
drinking wine is not for the kings,
nor is strong drink for rulers.
5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed,
and he will pervert the rights[a] of all the afflicted.[b]
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress.[c]
7 He will drink and forget his poverty,
and his misery he will not remember any more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights[d] of all the needy.[e]
9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness,
and defend the poor and needy.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 31:5 Hebrew “right”
- Proverbs 31:5 Literally “sons of affliction”
- Proverbs 31:6 Literally “to bitterness of soul”
- Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew “right”
- Proverbs 31:8 Literally “the sons of the needy”
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
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
