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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 31:1–9

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
THE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

35 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. Proverbs 6:20Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    20¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  2. 2 Timothy 1:5Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

  3. Proverbs 1:8Rank 3 from verse 1
    Open

    8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  4. 2 Timothy 3:15Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

  5. Proverbs 30:1Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    1THE words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

From verse 2

  1. Isaiah 49:15Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

  2. 1 Samuel 1:11Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    11And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.

  3. 1 Samuel 1:28Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    28Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

From verse 3

  1. Deuteronomy 17:17Rank 1 from verse 3
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    17Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

  2. Nehemiah 13:26Rank 2 from verse 3
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    26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

  3. Proverbs 7:26–27Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

    27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

  4. Proverbs 5:9–11Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    9Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

    10Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

    11And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

  5. 1 Kings 11:1Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    1BUT king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

From verse 4

  1. Proverbs 20:1Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    1WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

  2. Ecclesiastes 10:17Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    17Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

  3. Isaiah 5:22Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    22Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

  4. Hosea 4:11–12Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

    12¶ My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

  5. 1 Kings 20:16–20Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    16And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

    17And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

    18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

    19So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

    20And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

From verse 5

  1. Habakkuk 2:5Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    5¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

From verse 6

  1. 1 Timothy 5:23Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

  2. Psalms 104:15Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

  3. 1 Samuel 1:10Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

  4. 1 Samuel 30:6Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

  5. 2 Kings 4:27Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

From verse 7

  1. Ephesians 5:18Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

From verse 8

  1. Psalms 82:3–4Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

    4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

  2. Proverbs 24:11–12Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

    12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

  3. Esther 4:13–16Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

    14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

    15¶ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

    16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

  4. Jeremiah 26:24Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    24Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

  5. Jeremiah 38:7–10Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    7¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

    8Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,

    9My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.

    10Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

From verse 9

  1. Isaiah 1:17Rank 1 from verse 9
    Open

    17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

  2. Amos 5:11–12Rank 2 from verse 9
    Open

    11Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

    12For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

  3. Leviticus 19:15Rank 3 from verse 9
    Open

    15¶ Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

  4. Deuteronomy 1:16Rank 4 from verse 9
    Open

    16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

  5. Job 29:15–16Rank 5 from verse 9
    Open

    15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

    16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:1

COMBINED MEANING

words

↗

Spoken or written expressions, sayings, statements, messages, commands, promises, reports, or units of meaningful speech.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:2

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

womb

↗

Sense 1: The bodily place in a female where a child is conceived and carried before birth. Sense 2: A source pictured as such a place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:3

COMBINED MEANING

strength

↗

Power, might, force, ability, firmness, courage, capacity, support, defence, resources, or that by which a person or thing is enabled to stand, act, endure, overcome, or accomplish a work.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

destroyeth

↗

Third-person singular present form of destroy. Sense 1: Ruins, demolishes, consumes, or lays waste. Sense 2: Kills or cuts off. Sense 3: Causes a thing's structure, use, activity, or present condition to cease.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:4

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wine

↗

The produce of grapes or other fruit used as a drink.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

strong

↗

Having great power, might, firmness, courage, capacity, influence, defence, health, intensity, or ability to act, endure, resist, overcome, or support.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:5

COMBINED MEANING

lest

↗

For fear that, to prevent the possibility that, or so that an undesired or warned-of result may not occur.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

forget

↗

To fail or cease to remember; to lose from mind; to neglect or disregard.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

law

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative rule, command, ordinance, instruction, standard, or body of requirements. Sense 2: The writings containing such instruction. Sense 3: A governing principle, power, regular order, or civil rule. Sense 4: In family compounds, relationship by marriage.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pervert

↗

To turn aside, twist, corrupt, distort, or lead away from what is right, true, just, or intended.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

judgment

↗

The act, authority, process, cause, or result of judging; discernment, legal hearing, verdict, ordinance, justice, government, vindication, condemnation, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:6

COMBINED MEANING

strong

↗

Having great power, might, firmness, courage, capacity, influence, defence, health, intensity, or ability to act, endure, resist, overcome, or support.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ready

↗

Prepared; in a state requiring no delay; willing or prompt.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

perish

↗

Sense 1: Of a living person or creature, to die, be killed, be destroyed, or be lost. Sense 2: Of a thing, condition, plan, thought, or work, to be ruined, decay, fail, vanish, or come to nothing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wine

↗

The produce of grapes or other fruit used as a drink.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heavy

↗

Sense 1: Of great weight. Sense 2: Grievous, sorrowful, burdened, or hard to bear.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hearts

↗

The inward lives of persons: their thoughts, understanding, conscience, affections, desires, purposes, will, courage, or disposition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:7

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forget

↗

To fail or cease to remember; to lose from mind; to neglect or disregard.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

poverty

↗

The condition of being poor, destitute, or lacking necessary provision.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

remember

↗

1. To retain in mind or call back to mind; to recall. 2. To keep in mind with heed, observance, commemoration, or corresponding action. 3. To take account of a person, promise, deed, sin, or need and act with regard to it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:8

COMBINED MEANING

open

↗

Sense 1: Unclosed, uncovered, or manifest. Sense 2: As a verb, to uncover, reveal, or explain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mouth

↗

Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dumb

↗

Sense 1: Unable, unwilling, or restrained from speaking; silent or speechless. Sense 2: Causing muteness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cause

↗

Sense 1: A reason, ground, matter in dispute, or judicial case. Sense 2: As a verb, to make something happen.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

appointed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of appoint. Sense 1: To assign, designate, establish, or set for a particular purpose, office, or time. Sense 2: To supply, allot, furnish, or equip with provisions or equipment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

destruction

↗

The act, result, or state of destroying: ruin, overthrow, death, wasting, or that which brings ruin.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:9

COMBINED MEANING

open

↗

Sense 1: Unclosed, uncovered, or manifest. Sense 2: As a verb, to uncover, reveal, or explain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mouth

↗

Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

judge

↗

Sense 1: A person or authority who hears, discerns, decides, governs, vindicates, condemns, or administers justice. Sense 2: To examine, distinguish, determine, form a verdict, rule, govern, condemn, punish, vindicate, or call to account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

plead

↗

Sense 1: To argue, appeal, or speak in support of a cause before one who may decide it. Sense 2: To contend, judge, vindicate, or maintain a cause.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cause

↗

Sense 1: A reason, ground, matter in dispute, or judicial case. Sense 2: As a verb, to make something happen.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1THE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

Selected passage

2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

Selected passage

3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Selected passage

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Selected passage

5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Selected passage

6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Selected passage

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Selected passage

10¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

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