Ecclesiastes 31:8

Nova Vulgata

Aperi os tuum pro muto et causis omnium filiorum, qui pereunt;

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Nec conclusisti me in manibus inimici ; statuisti in loco spatioso pedes meos.

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Aperi os tuum muto,
et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Open: Proverbs 24:7, Proverbs 24:11, Proverbs 24:12, 1 Samuel 19:4-7, 1 Samuel 20:32, 1 Samuel 22:14, 1 Samuel 22:15, Esther 4:13-16, Job 29:9, Job 29:17, Psalms 82:3, Psalms 82:4, Jeremiah 26:16-19, Jeremiah 26:24, Jeremiah 38:7-10, John 7:51

such: etc. Heb. the sons of destruction, Psalms 79:11, *marg.

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 25:1 - General 2 Samuel 17:7 - not good Proverbs 31:26 - openeth Ecclesiastes 3:7 - and a time to speak Isaiah 11:4 - reprove Jeremiah 21:12 - deliver Jeremiah 38:9 - these Ezekiel 18:8 - hath executed Habakkuk 1:13 - holdest Matthew 5:2 - General Romans 13:4 - he is

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Open thy mouth for the dumb,.... Not who are naturally so, but who cannot speak in their own behalf, either through want of elocution, or knowledge of the laws; or who are bashful, timorous, and fearful, being overawed by the majesty of a court of judicature, or by their prosecutors; or who, as they have not a tongue, so not a purse, to speak for them, the fatherless and the widow; which latter has her name, in the Hebrew language, from dumbness. Here Lemuel's mother advises him to open his mouth freely, readily, boldly, and intrepidly, and plead for such persons. Even

in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction; whose destruction is resolved on by their accusers and prosecutors; and who are in danger of it, being charged with capital crimes; unless some persons of wisdom, power, and authority, interpose on their behalf. It may be rendered, "in the cause of all the children of change", or "passing away" s; the children of the world, which passeth away with all things in it, as Kimchi; or orphans, whose help passeth away, as Jarchi; or rather strangers, as others, who pass from place to place and whose state and condition is liable to many changes who may be ignorant of the laws of the country where they are, and may stand in need of persons to plead for them.

s בני חלוף "filiormn transitus", Montanus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "transeuntis, sub. seculi", Vatablus, so Ben Melech; "filiorum mutationis loci", Piscator; "filii mutationis, h. e. hujus mundi", Baynus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In contrast with the two besetting sins of Eastern monarchs stands their one great duty, to give help to those who had no other helper.

Such as are appointed to destruction - literally, “children of bereavement,” with the sense, either, as in the text, of those “destined to be bereaved of life or goods,” or of “bereaved or fatherless children.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 31:8. Open thy mouth for the dumb — For such accused persons as have no counsellors, and cannot plead for themselves.

Are appointed to destruction. — בני חלוף beney chaloph, variously translated, children of passage - indigent travellers; children of desolation - those who have no possessions, or orphans. I believe it either signifies those who are strangers, and are travelling from place to place, or those who are ready to perish in consequence of want or oppression.