Devine Scripture

Proverbs 31:9

What does Proverbs 31:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Proverbs 31:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Proverbs 31:9 means

This verse serves as a culmination of the mother's positive charge to King Lemuel regarding his rule. She reiterates the command to "Open thy mouth," reinforcing the need for active intervention on behalf of others. More explicitly, she instructs him to "judge righteously" and "minister justice to the poor and needy." This underscores the king’s primary responsibility to ensure fair and impartial judgment, actively protecting and providing for the most disadvantaged members of society, rather than favoring the powerful or neglecting the vulnerable.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.

Context

This verse directly follows and expands upon the call to advocate for the voiceless in verse 8. It solidifies the mother’s ethical instruction to her son the king, moving from a general principle to a specific command for righteous judgment and care for the needy. This concludes the first major section of Proverbs 31, the mother's oracle to King Lemuel, and sets the stage for the dramatic shift to the acrostic poem about the virtuous woman in verse 10.

v.8Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

v.9This passage

v.10A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 19:11

    And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

  • Deuteronomy 1:16

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

  • Daniel 4:27

    Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

  • Amos 5:11

    Forasmuch therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him 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 the wine thereof.

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  • Jeremiah 22:3

    Thus saith Jehovah: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence, to the sojourner, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed innocent blood in this place.

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