Proverbs 23:29-35

29 Who has ¹woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who ²linger long over wine, Those who go to taste ³mixed wine.

31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles * in the cup, When it ⁴goes down smoothly;

32 At the last it ⁵bites like a serpent And stings like a ⁶viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will ⁷utter perverse things.

34 And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.

35 "They ⁸struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will ⁹seek another * drink."

Proverbs 23:29-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11

This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1-8 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9-13 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:14-26 of which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having notice of sought to slay him, 1Ki 11:27-40 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1Ki 11:41-43.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 5:11, 22
• 2. 1 Samuel 25:36; Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 28:7; Ephesians 5:18
• 3. Psalms 75:8
• 4. Song of Songs 7:9
• 5. Job 20:16; Proverbs 20:1; Ephesians 5:18
• 6. Psalms 91:13; Isaiah 11:8
• 7. Proverbs 2:12
• 8. Proverbs 27:22; Jeremiah 5:3
• 9. Proverbs 26:11; Isaiah 56:12

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "search out"
• [b]. Lit "gives its eye"
• [c]. Lit "heart"
• [d]. Lit "heart"
• [e]. Or "lookout"
• [f]. I.e. from the effect of wounds
• [g]. Lit "it yet again"