DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR

Passage: Proverbs 31:1-9

Key verse: 9

NIV

Sayings of King Lemuel

31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(B)
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.(C)

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,(D)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink(E) and forget what has been decreed,(F)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine(G) for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink(H) and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak(I) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(J)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son?[a] What are you doing, (A)son of my womb?
    What are you doing, (B)son of my vows?
3 Do (C)not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those (D)who destroy kings.
4 (E)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings (F)to drink wine,
    or for rulers to take (G)strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
    and (H)pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the one who (I)is perishing,
    and wine to (J)those in bitter distress;[b]
7 (K)let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.
8 (L)Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.[c]
9 Open your mouth, (M)judge righteously,
    (N)defend the rights of (O)the poor and needy.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 31:2 Hebrew What, my son?
  2. Proverbs 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul
  3. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. What the king should avoid (1-7) We are a royal priesthood. As a godly king should avoid, so men should not spend their strength on women. We should not crave wine and beer. A drunkard drinks and forgets what the law decrees and deprives all the oppressed of their rights. Only perishing people who are in anguish like drinking. 2. What the king should do (8-9) He must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the right of all who are destitute (2Sam 14:4-11). To love God is to love our neighbors.

Prayer: Lord, let me not use my strength on women and alcohol. Let me use them to love you and neighbors who are in need.

One Word: Defend the rights of the poor