New International Version
Proverbs 31:9
9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Context of Proverbs 31:9
7Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. 8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. 10A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
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 16:12Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:8When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
- Leviticus 19:15“ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
- Deuteronomy 1:16And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.
- Deuteronomy 16:18Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.
- 2 Samuel 8:15David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
- Psalms 58:1Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?
- Psalms 72:1Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
- Job 29:12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.
- Isaiah 1:17Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
- Isaiah 11:4but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
- Isaiah 32:1See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
- Jeremiah 5:28and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor.
- Jeremiah 22:3This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
- Jeremiah 23:5“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
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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