Proverbs 31:2

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

What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
KJV
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
WEB
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
ASV
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
DARBY
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
BLB
What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
ÅB
Hva skal jeg si til deg, min sønn, du mitt livs sønn, du mine løfters sønn?
OTB
Hvordan skal jeg tale til deg, min sønn? Hvordan skal jeg tale til deg, barn av mitt liv? Hvordan skal jeg tale til deg, barn av mine løfter?
B1930
Hvad skal jeg si til dig, min sønn, du mitt livs sønn, du mine løfters sønn?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 49:15

    “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 1:11

    And she made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 1:28

    I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

    Read in context