Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible
Christian Standard Bible ®
Proverbs 31:3
Don’t spend your energy on womenor your efforts on those who destroy kings.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
King James Version
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
English Standard Version
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
New American Standard Bible
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
New Century Version
Don't waste your strength on women or your time on those who ruin kings.
Don't waste your strength on women or your time on those who ruin 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.
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.
World English Bible
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Legacy Standard Bible
Do not give your excellence to women,Or your ways to that which blots out kings.
Do not give your excellence to women,Or your ways to that which blots out kings.
Berean Standard Bible
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Contemporary English Version
Don't waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings.
Don't waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings.
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Don't give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Darby Translation
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
Easy-to-Read Version
Don't waste your strength on women. Women destroy kings, so don't waste yourself on them.
Don't waste your strength on women. Women destroy kings, so don't waste yourself on them.
George Lamsa Translation
Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to the extravagance of kings.
Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to the extravagance of kings.
Good News Translation
Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings.
Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings.
Lexham English Bible
Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings.
Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings.
Literal Translation
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which wipes out kings.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which wipes out kings.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
geue not ouer thy substaunce & mynde vnto women, which are the destruccio eue of kynges.
geue not ouer thy substaunce & mynde vnto women, which are the destruccio eue of kynges.
American Standard Version
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Bible in Basic English
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
King James Version (1611)
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes to that which destroyeth kings.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes to that which destroyeth kings.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Geue not ouer thy strength & wayes vnto women, which are the destruction euen of kynges.
Geue not ouer thy strength & wayes vnto women, which are the destruction euen of kynges.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.
When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.
English Revised Version
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Yyue thou not thi catel to wymmen, and thi richessis to do awei kyngis.
Update Bible Version
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to [those women who] destroy kings.
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to [those women who] destroy kings.
Webster's Bible Translation
Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
New English Translation
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings.
Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings.
New King James Version
Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
New Living Translation
do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
New Life Bible
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings.
New Revised Standard
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
Revised Standard Version
Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Young's Literal Translation
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Contextual Overview
1The words of King Lemuel, 2What should I say, my son?What, son of my womb?What, son of my vows? 3Don’t spend your energy on womenor your efforts on those who destroy kings.4It is not for kings, Lemuel,it is not for kings to drink wineor for rulers to desire beer. 5Otherwise, he will drink,forget what is decreed,and pervert justice for all the oppressed. 6Give beer to one who is dyingand wine to one whose life is bitter. 7Let him drink so that he can forget his povertyand remember his trouble no more. 8Speak up for those who have no voice,for the justice of all who are dispossessed. 9Speak up, judge righteously,and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
strength: Proverbs 5:9-11, Proverbs 7:26, Proverbs 7:27, Hosea 4:11
to that: Deuteronomy 17:17, Nehemiah 13:26
Reciprocal: Proverbs 5:10 - wealth Acts 24:25 - temperance
Cross-References
Genesis 13:15
for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see.
for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see.
Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.
At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.
Genesis 26:24
and the Lord appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of my servant Abraham.”
and the Lord appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of my servant Abraham.”
Genesis 28:4
May God give you and your offspring the blessing of Abraham so that you may possess the land where you live as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”
May God give you and your offspring the blessing of Abraham so that you may possess the land where you live as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”
Genesis 28:13
The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying.
The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying.
Genesis 30:25
After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so that I can return to my homeland.
After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so that I can return to my homeland.
Genesis 31:2
And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before.
And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before.
Genesis 31:3
The Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
The Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
Genesis 31:5
He said to them, “I can see from your father’s face that his attitude toward me is not the same as before, but the God of my father has been with me.
He said to them, “I can see from your father’s face that his attitude toward me is not the same as before, but the God of my father has been with me.
Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’”
I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’”
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Give not thy strength unto women,.... Strength of body, which is weakened by an excessive use of venery b with a multiplicity of women; see, Proverbs 5:9; and strength of mind, reason, and wisdom, which is impaired by conversation with such persons; whereby time is consumed and lost, which should be spent in the improvement of knowledge: or "thy riches", as the Septuagint and Arabic versions, thy substance, which harlots devour, and who bring a man to a piece of bread, as the prodigal was, Proverbs 6:26; and even drain the coffers of kings and princes;
nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings; do not give thy mind to take such courses, and pursue such ways and methods, as bring ruin on kings and kingdoms, as conversation with harlots does; see Proverbs 7:26. Some think the design of this advice is to warn against any ambitious views of enlarging his dominions by invading neighbouring countries, and making war with neighbouring kings, to the ruin of them; but the former sense seems best. The Targum is,
"nor thy ways to the daughters of kings.''
Solomon was given to women, who proved very pernicious to him,
1 Kings 11:1. Some render it, "which destroyeth counsel" c; for whoredom weakens the mind as well as the body.
b "Venus enervat vireis", Avienus. c Don Joseph apud Schindler. col. 990.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
To that which destroyeth - The temptations of the harem were then, as now, the curse of all Eastern kingdoms.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 31:3. Give not thy strength — Do not waste thy substance on women. In such intercourse the strength of body, soul and substance is destroyed. Such connections are those which destroy kings, ××××× melachin, the Chaldee termination instead of the Hebrew.
