PROV 31:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST These are the sayings of King Lemuel; Yahweh had spoken these sayings that his mother had taught him:

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The words of King Lemuel,
⇔ an oracle that his mother taught him:

LSV Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

FBV These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.

T4T These are sayings/messages that God gave to King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:

LEB No LEB PROV 31:1 verse available

BBE The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.

Moff Sayings that Lemuel king of Massa learned from his mother.

JPS The words of king Lemuel; the burden wherewith his mother corrected him.

ASV The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

DRA The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.

YLT Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

Drby The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:

RV The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

SLT The words of Lemuel the king, the lifting up which his mother will instruct him.

Wbstr The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

KJB-1769 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

KJB-1611 ¶ The wordes of King Lemuel, the prophecie that his mother taught him.
(¶ The words of King Lemuel, the prophesy that his mother taught him.)

Bshps The wordes of king Lamuel, and the lesson that his mother taught him.
(The words of king Lamuel, and the lesson that his mother taught him.)

Gnva THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
(THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophesy which his mother taught him. )

Cvdl These are the wordes of Kynge Lamuel, & ye lesson yt his mother taught him.
(These are the words of King Lamuel, and ye/you_all lesson it his mother taught him.)

Wycl The wordis of Lamuel, the king; the visioun bi which his modir tauyte hym.
(The words of Lamuel, the king; the vision by which his mother taught him.)

Luth Dies sind die Worte des Königs Lamuel, die Lehre, die ihn seine Mutter lehrete:
(This/These are the words the kings Lamuel, the teaching, the him/it his mother taught:)

ClVg Verba Lamuelis regis. Visio qua erudivit eum mater sua.[fn]
(Words Lamuelis king. Vision which I_learntt him mother his_own. )

31.1 Verba Lamuelis. Lamuel, in quo est Deus, etc., usque ad vidit quam prudenter se mater sua docuerit.

31.1 Words Lamuelis. Lamuel, in/into/on where it_is God, etc., until to he_saw how prudently himself mother his_own docuerit.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 31:1–9: Here are the sayings of King Lemuel

The verses in this section were written or collected by King Lemuel. They contain advice that his mother gave him regarding the way that a good king should rule his people. Her advice focuses on a king’s relationships with women (v. 3), the use of intoxicating drink (vv. 4–7) and justice for the poor (vv. 8–9). English versions divide the paragraphs in this section in several ways. The paragraphs in the Notes will be divided according to these three topics. The title (v. 1) and introduction (v. 2) will each form a separate paragraph.

Some other headings for this section are:

What King Lemuel’s Mother Taught Him (CEV)

Advice to a King (GNT)

Wise Words of King Lemuel (NCV)

31:1

These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

¶ These are the words/sayings that King Lemuel’s mother taught him. Yahweh caused him to write them.
¶ Here are the wise words/sayings that Yahweh caused King Lemuel to write. His mother taught them to him.

These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: In Hebrew, this verse is the title for section 31:1–9 and perhaps also for the rest of the chapter.Waltke (pages 501–502) argues that the title applies to the whole chapter on the grounds that otherwise, verses 10–31 would be the only section in Proverbs that had no mention of an author. However, the structure of verses 10–31 (an acrostic poem of praise) is completely different from that of verses 1–9 (instruction). Delitzsch (pages 473 and 480) considers them to be separate appendices. Whybray (page 422) and Murphy (page 240) both note that the LXX separates verses 1–9 from verses 10–31 with chapters 25–29. According to Murphy, these independent poems were placed together here in the last chapter because they both contain similar chiastic structures. Fox (page 882) finds topical reasons for placing these two sections together. For example, vv.1–9 contain the advice of a wise woman; vv. 10–31 mention the wise and kind teaching of a good woman (v. 26). See how you formatted the similar title in 30:1a.

King Lemuel: This is the only mention of King Lemuel in the OT.

the burden: There is a textual issue with the word burden:

The Masoretic Text (MT) has the burden. This phrase refers to an oracle or prophetic message. It indicates here that the LORD inspired Lemuel to write the words that his mother instructed him. For example:
King Lemuel—an inspired utterance (NIV11) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NET, NIV, NLT96, NRSV)
Some scholars think that the original Hebrew phrase was “of Massa.” It indicates here that Lemuel was a king in a place named Massa. For example:
Lemuel king of Massa (NJB) (CEV, NAB, NJB, NJPS, REB, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries. The LXX also supports this option. See the notes on 30:1a. The same option is recommended there.

his mother taught him: The verb taught refers to moral instruction or training. See discipline in the Glossary.

Another way to translate this verse is:

The inspired message of King Lemuel that his mother taught him:

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate verse 31:1 as a statement and to combine/reorder some of the phrases. For example:

Here are the wise words that the LORD caused King Lemuel to write. His mother taught them to him.

Parallel PROV 31:1

Section 31:1–9: Here are the sayings of King Lemuel

31:1