Proverbs 31:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Proverbs 31:3

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The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, ^ason of my vows?

3 ^aDo not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways ^bto that which destroys kings.

4 ^aIt is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

5 ^aLest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all¹ the afflicted.

6 ^aGive strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

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

8 ^aOpen your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are¹ appointed to die.

9 Open your mouth, ^ajudge righteously,
And ^bplead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

10 ^aWho¹ can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

Verse Comparison: Proverbs 31:3

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Proverbs 31:4 >>

American Standard Version
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Amplified® Bible
Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who {and} that which ruin {and} destroy kings.

Contemporary English Version
Don't waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings.

Darby English Version
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

Good News Bible
Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings.

King James Version
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

New American Standard Bible
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

New International Version
do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

New King James Version
Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

Revised Standard Version
Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

Young's Literal Translation
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

<< Proverbs 31:2

Proverbs 31:4 >>

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The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

The Virtuous Wife

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning