At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Parallel translations
- WEB In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
- BSB In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
- NKJV At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.
- NASB In the end it bites like a snake And stings like a viper.
- NLT For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.
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
In the end, wine bites and poisons like a venomous snake.
Overview
The smooth pleasure of drink finally turns deadly, striking like a serpent. The contrast between wine's inviting appearance and its venomous end is the heart of the warning. Sin generally works this way, promising delight but delivering death, which is why Scripture urges fleeing its first allurements (James 1:14-15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Isa 28:7–8But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
- Luke 16:25–26But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
- Isa 28:3The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
- Jer 8:17For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
- Prov 5:11And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
- Isa 59:5They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
- Eccl 10:8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
- Job 20:16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
- Amos 9:3And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
- Amos 5:19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
- Exod 7:12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
- Rom 6:21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
- Exod 7:5–6And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
- Jer 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 23:32 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
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