Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
- BSB Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
- NKJV Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;
- NASB Do not look at wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly;
- NLT Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Do not be lured by wine's appealing color, sparkle, and smoothness.
Overview
Wine's outward attractiveness conceals its danger, so wisdom warns against being captivated by its appeal. The very qualities that entice, color and smoothness, mask the harm that follows. This teaches discernment that looks past surface allure to true consequence, a discernment Christ cultivates in His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Jn 2:16For 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.
- Ps 119:37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
- 2 Sam 11:2And 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.
- Mark 9:47And 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:
- Prov 6:25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
- Matt 5:28–30But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- Job 33:1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 23:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.