Proverbs 23 · Verse 31

Proverbs 23:31

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Proverbs 23:31, King James Version

Proverbs 23:31 in other translations

BSBDo not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
WEBDon’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
ASVLook not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly:
YLTSee not wine when it showeth itself red, When it giveth in the cup its colour, It goeth up and down through the upright.
DARBYLook not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly:
BBEKeep your eyes from looking on the wine when it is red, when its colour is bright in the cup, when it goes smoothly down:
WebsterLook not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

What does Proverbs 23:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 23:26-35

26-35. 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 full comment on Proverbs 23:26-35 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 Look 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 23:29-35

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…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 23:29-35 →

Proverbs 23:31 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תֵּ֥רֶאTe.re'you seeH7200
יַיִן֮ya.YinwineH3196
כִּ֪יkiforH3588
יִתְאַ֫דָּ֥םyit.'A.Damit will be redH119
כִּֽי\־ki-ifH3588
יִתֵּ֣ןyi.Tenit will giveH5414
בַּכּ֣וֹסba.kisin the cupH3563
עֵינ֑וֹei.Noeye itsH5869
יִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְyit.ha.Lekhit will goH1980
בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים\׃be.mei.sha.Rimwith smoothness<es>H4339

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 23:31

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • Psalms 119:37

    Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

  • 2 Samuel 11:2

    And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

  • Proverbs 6:25

    Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

  • Mark 9:47

    And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

  • Job 33:1

    Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

  • Matthew 5:28-30

    But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:25; 2Sa 11:2; Job 33:1; Ps 119:37; Mt 5:28-30; Mr 9:47; 1Jo 2:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 23:30

    They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

  • Proverbs 23:31

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

  • Proverbs 23:32

    At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Read all of Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No mires al vino cuando rojea, cuando resplandece su color en el vaso: éntrase suavemente;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– Ne regarde pas le vin quand il est vermeil, quand il est perlé dans la coupe, et qu’il coule aisément;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sieh den Wein nicht an, wenn er sich rot zeigt, wenn er im Becher blinkt, leicht hinuntergleitet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit, cum splenduerit in vitro color ejus: ingreditur blande,