Proverbs 23:31

Amplified Bible

Do not look at wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the glass, When it goes down smoothly.

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation
Don't gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.

Update Bible Version
Don't look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:

New Century Version
Don't stare at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

New English Translation
Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

Webster's Bible Translation
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, [when] it moveth itself aright.

World English Bible
Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:

English Standard Version
Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Biholde thou not wyn, whanne it sparclith, whanne the colour therof schyneth in a ver.

English Revised Version
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, when it goeth down smoothly.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

Contemporary English Version
Don't even look at that colorful stuff bubbling up in the glass! It goes down so easily,

American Standard Version
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly:

Bible in Basic English
Keep your eyes from looking on the wine when it is red, when its colour is bright in the cup, when it goes smoothly down:

Complete Jewish Bible
Don't gaze at the red wine as it gives its color to the cup. It may glide down smoothly now;

Darby Translation
Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly:

Easy-to-Read Version
So be careful with wine. It is pretty and red as it sparkles in the cup. And it goes down so smoothly when you drink it.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, when it glideth down smoothly;

King James Version (1611)
Looke not thou vpon the wine when it is red, when it giueth his colour in the cup, when it moueth it selfe aright.

New Life Bible
Do not look at wine when it is red, when it shines in the cup, when it is smooth in going down.

New Revised Standard
Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Looke not thou vpon the wine, when it is red, and when it sheweth his colour in the cup, or goeth downe pleasantly.

George Lamsa Translation
Do not look on the wine when it is red in the cup, but meditate on righteousness.

Good News Translation
Don't let wine tempt you, even though it is rich red, and it sparkles in the cup, and it goes down smoothly.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Do not look on wine when it becometh red, when it giveth in the cup its sparkle, glideth down smoothly.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Look not upon the wine when it is yellow, when the colour thereof shineth in the glass: it goeth in pleasantly,

Revised Standard Version
Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Looke not thou vpon the wine howe red it is, and what a colour it geueth in the glasse:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.

Christian Standard Bible®
Don’t gaze at wine because it is red,because it gleams in the cupand goes down smoothly.

Hebrew Names Version
Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:

King James Version
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

Lexham English Bible
Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles on the cup, going down smoothly.

Literal Translation
Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it gives its color in the cup, when it goes down smoothly,

Young's Literal Translation
See not wine when it showeth itself red, When it giveth in the cup its colour, It goeth up and down through the upright.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Loke not thou vpon the wyne, how reed it is, and what a color it geueth in the glasse.

New American Standard Bible
Do not look at wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly;

New King James Version
Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly;

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not look on the wine when it glistens red,When it sparkles in the cup,When it goes down smoothly;

Contextual Overview

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. ³¹Do 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]. ³⁴And you will be [as unsteady] as one who lies down in the middle of the sea, And [as vulnerable to disaster] as one who lies down on the top of a ship's mast, saying, ³⁵"They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me, but I did not feel it! When will I wake up? I will seek more wine."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 6:25, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 33:1, Psalms 119:37, Matthew 5:28-30, Mark 9:47, 1 John 2:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:21 - and was Genesis 19:32 - drink Joshua 7:21 - I saw Job 31:1 - a covenant Psalms 101:3 - set Proverbs 7:25 - thine Proverbs 9:17 - Stolen

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,.... Or, "because it is red" r; or shows itself red. Which was the only wine used in the land of Canaan, or, however, the most esteemed of, and that most of art which had the best colour; when it had a good, bright, red colour, or sparkled, and looked bright and beautiful, so the word signifies; and then it should not be looked upon: not that it is unlawful to look upon the colour of wine, and thereby judge of its goodness; but it should not be looked upon with a greedy eye, so as vehemently to desire it, which will lead to an intemperate use of it; just as looking upon a woman, so as to lust after her, is forbidden, Matthew 5:28;

when it giveth his colour in the cup: or, its eye in the cup s; such a bright, brisk, and beautiful colour, as is like a bright and sparkling eye. Here is a various reading; it is written in the text, "in the purse" t; it is read in the margin, "in the cup"; and Jarchi's note takes in both,

"he that drinks wine sets his eye on the cup; and the vintner sets his on his purse;''

[when] it moveth itself aright; sparkles in the glass, or goes down the throat pleasantly; or rather looks well to the eye, and appears right and good, and promises a great deal of satisfaction and delight.

r כי "quia", some in Mercerus, Gejerus. s עינו "oculum suum", Montanus, Gejerus, Michaelis. t בכיס "in crumena, vel marsupio", Mercerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 Psalms 37:1; Psalms 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 envy, emulate, the fear of the Lord.”

Proverbs 23:18

Or, For if there is an end (hereafter), thine expectations shall not be cut off. There is an implied confidence in immortality.

Proverbs 23:20

Riotous eaters of flesh - The word is the same as “glutton” in Proverbs 23:21 and Deuteronomy 21:20.

Proverbs 23:21

The three forms of evil that destroy reputation and tempt to waste are brought together.

Drowsiness - Specially the drunken sleep, heavy and confused.

Proverbs 23:26

Observe - Another reading gives, “let thine eyes delight in my ways.”

Proverbs 23:28

As for a prey - Better as in the margin.

The transgressors - Better, the treacherous,” those that attack men treacherously.

Proverbs 23:29

Woe ... sorrow - The words in the original are interjections, probably expressing distress. The sharp touch of the satirist reproduces the actual inarticulate utterances of drunkenness.

Proverbs 23:30

Mixed wine - Wine flavored with aromatic spices, that increase its stimulating properties Isaiah 5:22. There is a touch of sarcasm in “go to seek.” The word, elsewhere used of diligent search after knowledge Proverbs 25:2; Job 11:7; Psalms 139:1, is used here of the investigations of connoisseurs in wine meeting to test its qualities.

Proverbs 23:31

His color - literally, “its eye,” the clear brightness, or the beaded bubbles on which the wine drinker looks with complacency.

It moveth itself aright - The Hebrew word describes the pellucid stream flowing pleasantly from the wineskin or jug into the goblet or the throat (compare Song of Solomon 7:9), rather than a sparkling wine.

Proverbs 23:32

Adder - Said to be the Cerastes, or horned snake.

Proverbs 23:34

The passage is interesting, as showing the increased familiarity of Israelites with the experiences of sea life (compare Psalms 104:25-26; Psalms 107:23-30).

In the midst of the sea - i. e., When the ship is in the trough of the sea and the man is on the deck. The second clause varies the form of danger, the man is in the “cradle” at the top of the mast, and sleeps there, regardless of the danger.

Proverbs 23:35

The picture ends with the words of the drunkard on waking from his sleep. Unconscious of the excesses of the night, his first thought is to return to his old habit.

When shall I awake ... - Better, when I shall awake I will seek it yet again.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 23:31. Look not thou upon the wine — Let neither the colour, the odour, the sparkling, &c., 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.