English Standard Version
Proverbs 23:31
31Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
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!
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
Context of Proverbs 23:31
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.
Read all of Proverbs 23Proverbs 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 her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
- 2 Samuel 11:2It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.
- Job 33:1"But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
- Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
- Matthew 5:28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- Mark 9:47And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,
- 1 John 2:16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries