God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 23:20
20Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat,
Proverbs 23:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
- New International Version (NIV)Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
Context of Proverbs 23:20
18There is indeed a future, and your hope will never be cut off. 19My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction. Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat, 21because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags. 22Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old.
Read all of Proverbs 23Proverbs 23:20 word by word
אַל־תְּהִ֥י בְסֹֽבְאֵי־יָ֑יִן בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖י בָשָׂ֣ר לָֽמוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 23:20
- Proverbs 23:29Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
- Proverbs 20:1Wine ⌞makes people⌟ mock, liquor ⌞makes them⌟ noisy, and everyone under their influence is unwise.
- Proverbs 28:7Whoever follows ⌞God’s⌟ teachings is a wise son. Whoever associates with gluttons disgraces his father.
- Proverbs 31:6Give liquor to a person who is dying and wine to one who feels resentful.
- Isaiah 5:11How horrible it will be for those who get up early to look for a drink, who sit up late until they are drunk from wine.
- Isaiah 22:13Instead, you will rejoice, celebrate, slaughter cattle, and butcher sheep. You will eat meat, drink wine, and say, “Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die.”
- Matthew 24:49The servant may begin to beat the other servants and eat and drink with the drunks.
- Luke 15:13“After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle.
- Luke 16:19“There was a rich man who wore expensive clothes. Every day was like a party to him.
- Luke 21:34“Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise
- Romans 13:13We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives.
- Ephesians 5:18Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
- 1 Peter 4:3You spent enough time in the past doing what unbelievers like to do. You were promiscuous, had sinful desires, got drunk, went to wild parties, and took part in the forbidden worship of false gods.
Commentaries on Proverbs 23:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Be not among winebibbers - There is much of this chapter spent in giving directions concerning eating, drinking, and entertainments in general. he pupil is directed relative to the manner in which he is to conduct himself in his visits to the tables of the rich and great. Relative to the covetous and his intercourse with them. And To public entertainnlents, where there were generally riot and debauch. The reasons, says Calmet, which induced the wise man…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. 19-28Verses 19-28 The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21Saying 15: Discipline is essential for a wise and balanced life. Drinking too much (drunkards, see also Proverbs 23:29–35), overeating (gluttons, see also Proverbs 23:1–3), or oversleeping (see also Proverbs 10:5; 19:15) leads to poverty.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2119-21. guide ... way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 23:20
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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