Proverbs 31:3
New International Version
Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.

New Living Translation
do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

English Standard Version
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

King James Bible
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

New King James Version
Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

New American Standard Bible
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

NASB 1995
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

NASB 1977
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not give your excellence to women, Or your ways to that which blots out kings.

Amplified Bible
Do not give your [generative] strength to women [neither foreign wives in marriages of alliances, nor concubines], Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t spend your energy on women or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t spend your energy on women or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

American Standard Version
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Contemporary English Version
Don't waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings.

English Revised Version
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't give your strength to women or your power to those who ruin kings.

Good News Translation
Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings.

International Standard Version
Never devote all your energy to sex, or dedicate your life to destroying kings.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

NET Bible
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings.

New Heart English Bible
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

Webster's Bible Translation
Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

World English Bible
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not give your strength to women, "" And your ways to wiping away of kings.

Young's Literal Translation
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not give thy strength to women, and thy ways to the destroying of kings.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.

New American Bible
Do not give your vigor to women, or your strength to those who ruin kings.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to the extravagance of kings.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not give your strength to women and your ways for the provisions of Kings
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Words of King Lemuel
2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? 3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,…

Cross References
1 Kings 11:1-4
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ...

Nehemiah 13:26
Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Judges 16:4-21
Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. / The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” / So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” ...

1 Samuel 25:3-38
His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings. / While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. / So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name ...

2 Samuel 11:1-27
In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. / One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” ...

1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

Hosea 4:11
to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.

Deuteronomy 17:17
He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

Genesis 39:7-12
and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” / But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. / No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” ...

Matthew 14:3-11
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, / because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” / Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet. ...

Mark 6:17-28
For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. / For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” / So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, ...

Luke 8:2-3
as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, / Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! / Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” / But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit. ...

1 Corinthians 7:2-5
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. / The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. / The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

strength

Proverbs 5:9-11
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: …

Proverbs 7:26,27
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her…

Hosea 4:11
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

to that

Deuteronomy 17:17
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Jump to Previous
Destroy Destroyeth Destroys Destruction Kings Ruin Spend Strength Vigor Ways Wiping Women
Jump to Next
Destroy Destroyeth Destroys Destruction Kings Ruin Spend Strength Vigor Ways Wiping Women
Proverbs 31
1. Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance
6. The afflicted are to be comforted and defended
10. The praise and properties of a good wife














Do not spend your strength
The phrase "do not spend your strength" serves as a cautionary directive, urging restraint and wisdom in the allocation of one's energy and resources. The Hebrew word for "strength" here is "חֵיל" (cheil), which can also mean wealth or capability. Historically, this advice is rooted in the understanding that a man's strength is not merely physical but encompasses his influence, resources, and potential. In a conservative Christian perspective, this is a call to stewardship, emphasizing that one's God-given abilities should be used for righteous purposes and not squandered on pursuits that lead to moral or spiritual decline.

on women
The term "on women" in this context is not a blanket condemnation of women but rather a warning against engaging in relationships that are detrimental or distracting from one's divine purpose. The Hebrew word "נָשִׁים" (nashim) is used here, which simply means women, but the implication is towards relationships that are not aligned with God's will. Historically, many kings and leaders fell into ruin due to entanglements with women who led them away from their responsibilities and faith. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this serves as a reminder to seek relationships that honor God and uphold His commandments.

your vigor
"Your vigor" refers to one's vitality and life force. The Hebrew word "כֹּחַ" (koach) is used, which denotes power, strength, and ability. This phrase underscores the importance of preserving one's energy for endeavors that are constructive and aligned with God's purpose. In a historical context, leaders were often advised to channel their vigor into governance and service to their people. For Christians, this is a call to dedicate one's vigor to serving God and others, ensuring that one's life is a testament to faith and righteousness.

on those who ruin kings
The phrase "on those who ruin kings" serves as a stark warning about the potential consequences of misdirected affections and alliances. The Hebrew word "מְחָה" (mechah) means to destroy or ruin, and it highlights the destructive potential of certain relationships. Historically, many biblical kings, such as Solomon, faced downfall due to alliances and relationships that led them away from God. In a conservative Christian context, this is a caution to be vigilant about the influences in one's life, ensuring they lead towards spiritual growth rather than destruction. It is a call to seek wisdom and discernment in all relationships, prioritizing those that encourage a closer walk with God.

(3) Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.--A slight change in the punctuation will give a better sense, "to those that destroy kings," i.e., women. Give not thy life to dissipation at their bidding. (Comp. Proverbs 6:24, sqq.; 1Kings 11:1).

Verse 3. - Exhortation to chastity. Give not thy strength unto women (comp. Proverbs 5:9). Chayil is "vigour," the bodily powers, which are sapped and enervated by sensuality. The Septuagint has σὸν πλοῦτον; the Vulgate, substantiam tuam; but the prayerful, anxious mother would consider rather her son's personal well being than his worldly circumstances, which, indeed, an Eastern monarch's licentiousness would not necessarily impair. Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings; or, with a slight alteration in the punctuation (and an improved parallelism), to them that destroy kings; "expugnatricibus regum," as Schultens terms them. Women are meant; and the prince is enjoined not to surrender his life, conduct, and actions to the influence of women, who, both by the dissipation and sensuality which they occasion, and the quarrels which they provoke, and the evil counsels which they give, often ruin kings and states (see the injunction, Deuteronomy 17:11). The Vulgate rendering, ad delendos reges, looks as if the warning was against making wars of conquest against neighbouring kings; but this is not a satisfactory parallel to the former clause. Septuagint, "Give not thy wealth unto women, nor thy mind, nor thy life unto remorse (ὑστεροβολίαν). Do all things with counsel; drink wine with counsel." This seems to belong to the next verse.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

spend
תִּתֵּ֣ן (tit·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

your strength
חֵילֶ֑ךָ (ḥê·le·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

on women
לַנָּשִׁ֣ים (lan·nā·šîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

or your vigor
וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ (ū·ḏə·rā·ḵe·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

on those who ruin
לַֽמְח֥וֹת (lam·ḥō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4229: To stroke, rub, to erase, to smooth, grease, make fat, to touch, reach to

kings.
מְלָכִֽין׃ (mə·lā·ḵîn)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king


Links
Proverbs 31:3 NIV
Proverbs 31:3 NLT
Proverbs 31:3 ESV
Proverbs 31:3 NASB
Proverbs 31:3 KJV

Proverbs 31:3 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 31:3 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 31:3 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 31:3 French Bible
Proverbs 31:3 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 31:3 Don't give your strength to women (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 31:2
Top of Page
Top of Page