The Words of King Lemuel

Proverbs 31

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son? 1 What are you doing, f son of my womb?
What are you doing, g son of my vows?
 3 Do h not give your strength to women,
your ways to those i who destroy kings.
 4 j It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings k to drink wine,
or for rulers to take l strong drink,
 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and m pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
 6 Give strong drink to the one who n is perishing,
and wine to o those in bitter distress; 2
7 p let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
 8 q Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute. 3
9 Open your mouth, r judge righteously,
s defend the rights of t the poor and needy.

  1. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:15
    Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:27
    For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 5:9
    Lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:26
    For many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
    Deuteronomy 17:17
    And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
    1 Kings 11:1
    Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women.
    Nehemiah 13:26
    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.
  5. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 10:17
    Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
    1 Kings 16:9
    But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah.
    1 Kings 20:16
    And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.
  6. Cross References
    Hosea 4:11
    Whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:1
    Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
  8. Cross References
    Isaiah 5:22 - 23
    Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink.
  9. Cross References
    Job 29:13
    The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
  10. Cross References
    Job 3:20
    Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 104:15
    And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.
  12. Cross References
    Job 29:12
    Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.
    Job 29:15 - 16
    I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
    Isaiah 1:17
    Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
  13. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:15
    You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
    Deuteronomy 1:16
    And I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
  14. Cross References
    Jeremiah 22:16
    He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.
    Isaiah 1:17
    Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
  15. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:20
    She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
    Psalms 40:17
    As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
    Psalms 86:1
    Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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