Proverbs 23:31

Proverbs 23:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;

Context of Proverbs 23:31

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Whose eyes are red and dim? 30Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the glass, When it goes down smoothly. 32At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper. 33Your [drunken] eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things [untrue things, twisted things].

Proverbs 23:31 word by word

אַל־תֵּ֥רֶא יַיִן֮ כִּ֪י יִתְאַ֫דָּ֥ם כִּֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן בַּכּ֣וֹס עֵינ֑וֹ יִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Lookרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• not thou upon the wineיַ֫יִןyayin · wineH3196
• when it is redאָדֹם'âdam · to reddenH119
• when it givethנָתַןnâthan · to give: doH5414
• his colourעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• in the cupכִּיסkîys · purseH3599
• in the cupכּוֹסkôs · cupH3563
• it movethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• itself arightמֵישָׁרmêyshâr · uprightnessH4339

Cross-references for Proverbs 23:31

• Proverbs 6:25Do not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelashes.
• 2 Samuel 11:2One evening David got up from his couch and was walking on the [flat] roof of the king’s palace, and from there he saw a woman bathing; and she was very beautiful in appearance.
• Job 33:1“However, Job, please listen to my words, And pay attention to everything I say.
• Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.
• Matthew 5:28but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
• Mark 9:47If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
• 1 John 2:16For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.

Commentaries on Proverbs 23:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Look not thou upon the wine - Let neither the color, the odour, the sparkling, etc., of the wine, when poured out, induce thee to drink of it. However good and pure it may be, it will to thee be a snare, because thou art addicted to it, and hast no self-command.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-35Verses 15-35 Another continuous exhortation rather than a collection of maxims. Proverbs 23:16 The teacher rejoices when the disciple‘s heart Proverbs 23:15 receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it. Reins - See Job 19:27 note. Proverbs 23:17 Envy sinners - Compare in Psalm 37:1; Psalm 73:3; the feeling which looks half-longingly at the prosperity of evil doers. Some connect the verb “envy” with the second clause, “envy not sinners, but…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-35Verses 29-35 Solomon warns against drunkenness. Those that would be kept from sin, must keep from all the beginnings of it, and fear coming within reach of its allurements. Foresee the punishment, what it will at last end in, if repentance prevent not. It makes men quarrel. Drunkards wilfully make woe and sorrow for themselves. It makes men impure and insolent. The tongue grows unruly; the heart utters things contrary to reason, religion, and common…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-35Saying 18: This saying highlights the foolishness of someone who drinks too much alcohol (see Proverbs 20:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-3526-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11). give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.). heart--confidence. observe--keep. my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 23:31

• Abstinence, Total
• Drunkenness
• Serpent
• Wine
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Clothe
• Colour
• Correction
• Cup
• Dainty
• Desirous
• Drunkard
• Eye
• Poverty
• Riotous

Commentaries on Proverbs 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings