New English Translation
Proverbs 31:9
9Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
- New International Version (NIV)Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Context of Proverbs 31:9
7let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. 8Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies. 11The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain.
Read all of Proverbs 31Proverbs 31:9 word by word
פְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפָט־צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 31:9
- Proverbs 16:12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:8A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.
- Leviticus 19:15“‘You must not deal unjustly in judgment: you must neither show partiality to the poor nor honor the rich. You must judge your fellow citizen fairly.
- Deuteronomy 1:16I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens and judge fairly, whether between one citizen and another or a citizen and a resident foreigner.
- Deuteronomy 16:18You must appoint judges and civil servants for each tribe in all your villages that the Lord your God is giving you, and they must judge the people fairly.
- 2 Samuel 8:15David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.
- Psalms 58:1Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly?
- Psalms 72:1O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
- Job 29:12for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;
- Isaiah 1:17Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!
- Isaiah 11:4He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.
- Isaiah 32:1Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.
- Jeremiah 5:28That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor.
- Jeremiah 22:3The Lord says, “Do what is just and right. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Do not exploit or mistreat foreigners who live in your land, children who have no fathers, or widows. Do not kill innocent people in this land.
- Jeremiah 23:5“I, the Lord, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 31:9
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Instead of drinking wine (Proverbs 31:4–7), the king should defend those who cannot protect themselves.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-93-9. Succinct but solemn warnings against vices to which kings are peculiarly tempted, as carnal pleasures and oppressive and unrighteous government are used to sustain sensual indulgence. strength--mental and bodily resources for health and comfort. thy ways--or course of life. to that ... kings--literally, "to the destroying of kings," avoid destructive pleasures (compare Pr 5:9; 7:22, 27; Ho 4:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 31:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries