New King James Version
Proverbs 31:9
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, 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 Living Translation (NLT)Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Context of Proverbs 31:9
7Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have 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 16:12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.
- Leviticus 19:15‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
- Deuteronomy 1:16“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
- Deuteronomy 16:18“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
- 2 Samuel 8:15So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.
- Psalms 58:1Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
- Psalms 72:1Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
- Job 29:12Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
- Isaiah 1:17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
- Isaiah 11:4But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
- Isaiah 32:1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.
- Jeremiah 5:28They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend.
- Jeremiah 22:3Thus says the Lord: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
- Jeremiah 23:5“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries