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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 31:4–12

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

32 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

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.

From verse 10

  1. Proverbs 19:14Rank 1 from verse 10
    Open

    14House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

  2. Proverbs 12:4Rank 2 from verse 10
    Open

    4A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

  3. Proverbs 18:22Rank 3 from verse 10
    Open

    22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

  4. Ephesians 5:25–33Rank 4 from verse 10
    Open

    25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

    26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

    27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

    28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

    29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

    30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

    31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

    32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

    33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

  5. Proverbs 3:15Rank 5 from verse 10
    Open

    15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

From verse 11

  1. 1 Peter 3:1–7Rank 1 from verse 11
    Open

    1LIKEWISE, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

    2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

    3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

    4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

    5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

    6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

    7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

  2. 2 Kings 4:22–23Rank 2 from verse 11
    Open

    22And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

    23And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

  3. 2 Kings 4:9–10Rank 3 from verse 11
    Open

    9And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

    10Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

From verse 12

  1. 1 Samuel 25:18–22Rank 1 from verse 12
    Open

    18¶ Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

    19And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

    20And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

    21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

    22So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

  2. 1 Samuel 25:26–27Rank 2 from verse 12
    Open

    26Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

    27And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:10

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:11

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

husband

↗

Sense 1: A married man in relation to his wife. Sense 2: One who manages or cultivates carefully.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

trust

↗

Sense 1: Confidence or reliance placed in a person or thing. Sense 2: To rely upon, confide in, or place confidence in. Sense 3: Something committed to another's care or charge.

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

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

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

COMBINED MEANING

need

↗

Sense 1: Want: occasion for something; necessity; a state that requires supply or relief. Sense 2: To require or lack something necessary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spoil

↗

Sense 1: Goods or captives taken from an enemy. Sense 2: As a verb, to plunder, rob, strip, ruin, or deprive of what is possessed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 31:12

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Surrounding Verses

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

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.

Selected passage

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Selected passage

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Selected passage

13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

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