Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of King Lemuel

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2 What are you doing, my son?[a] What are you doing, 1son of my womb? What are you doing, 2son of my vows?
3 Do 3not give your strength to women, your ways to those 4who destroy kings.
4 5It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings 6to drink wine, or for rulers to take 7strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and 8pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the one who 9is perishing, and wine to 10those in bitter distress;[b]
7 11let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 12Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.[c]
9 Open your mouth, 13judge righteously, 14defend the rights of 15the poor and needy.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Isaiah 49:15
  • 2. [1 Samuel 1:27]
  • 3. [Proverbs 5:9]
  • 4. [Proverbs 7:26; Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Kings 11:1; Nehemiah 13:26]
  • 5. Ecclesiastes 10:17; [1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 20:16]
  • 6. [Hosea 4:11]
  • 7. Proverbs 20:1
  • 8. [Isaiah 5:22, 23]
  • 9. Job 29:13
  • 10. Job 3:20
  • 11. [Psalms 104:15]
  • 12. Job 29:12, 15, 16; [Isaiah 1:17]
  • 13. Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16
  • 14. Jeremiah 22:16; [Isaiah 1:17]
  • 15. ver. 20; Psalms 40:17; Psalms 86:1

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Hebrew What, my son?
  • [b]. Hebrew those bitter in soul
  • [c]. Hebrew are sons of passing away
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.