Proverbs 31:9
◄  Proverbs 31:9  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

NET Bible (©2006)
Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Open your mouth in righteous judgment and judge the poor and the afflicted.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Speak out, judge fairly, and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

American King James Version
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

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

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

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

English Revised Version
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister judgment to the poor and needy.

Webster's Bible Translation
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

World English Bible
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy."

Young's Literal Translation
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

31:1-9 When children are under the mother's eye, she has an opportunity of fashioning their minds aright. Those who are grown up, should often call to mind the good teaching they received when children. The many awful instances of promising characters who have been ruined by vile women, and love of wine, should warn every one to avoid these evils. Wine is to be used for want or medicine. Every creature of God is good, and wine, though abused, has its use. By the same rule, due praise and consolation should be used as cordials to the dejected and tempted, not administered to the confident and self-sufficient. All in authority should be more carefully temperate even than other men; and should be protectors of those who are unable or afraid to plead their own cause. Our blessed Lord did not decline the bitterest dregs of the cup of sorrow put into his hands; but he puts the cup of consolation into the hands of his people, and causes those to rejoice who are in the deepest distress.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - Plead the cause; rather, minister judgment, or do right; act in your official capacity so that the effect shall be substantial justice (comp. Zechariah 8:16).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Open thy mouth, judge righteously,.... Having heard the cause, pronounce a righteous sentence; deliver it freely and impartially, with all readiness and boldness, not caring for the censures of wicked and unjust men;

and plead the cause of the poor and needy; who are oppressed by the rich, cannot plead for themselves, nor fee others to plead for them; do thou do it freely and faithfully. Thus as Lemuel's mother cautions him against women and wine, she advises him to do the duties of his office in administering impartial justice to all, and particularly in being the advocate and judge of the indigent and distressed.

Proverbs 31:9 Parallel Commentaries

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The Words of King Lemuel
…7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

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 1:16 And 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.
1 Samuel 19:4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.
1 Samuel 20:32 "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Jonathan asked his father.
Proverbs 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Jeremiah 22:16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.