Proverbs Chapter 31 verse 3 Holy Bible
Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
read chapter 31 in ASV
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
read chapter 31 in BBE
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
read chapter 31 in DARBY
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
read chapter 31 in KJV
read chapter 31 in WBT
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
read chapter 31 in WEB
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
read chapter 31 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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).
