PROV 23:31 Interlinear View

23:31 OSHB variant note: ב/כיס: (x-qere) ’בַּ/כּ֣וֹס’: lemma_b/3563 a morph_HRd/Ncfsa id_20GXn בַּ/כּ֣וֹס

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

This section follows the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1–22:16). It differs in significant ways from this preceding section:These differences were summarized from a number of commentaries, including UBS (page 472), Waltke (2004, page 22), and Hubbard (page 351).

The preceding section has mostly two-line proverbs that are one verse in length. This section has proverbs of a different form. They are sayings that range from one to seven verses. Most of the sayings are two or three verses in length. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes.
Many of the proverbs in the preceding section express a general principle. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. Most of the sayings here contain direct commands. They advise the reader or listener either to follow wise behavior or avoid foolish behavior. Most of the sayings also give a reason or motive for following the command.
As in chapters 1–9, the author addresses his reader or listener as a father who advises his son. He uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). See the note on 23:15 for a list of verses where the words “my son” occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

Thirty Wise Sayings (CEV)

Words of the Wise (ESV)

Thirty Sayings of the Wise (NIV11)

Verse 22:20 mentions “thirty sayings,” but the Hebrew text itself does not number the sayings. Some versions that use the word “thirty” in the section heading also give a number as a separate heading for each saying. The GNT and CEV start numbering the sayings at 22:22. They have a total of thirty-one paragraphs. In these versions, the first paragraph (22:17–21) serves as an introduction to the thirty sayings (22:22–24:22).Scholars who identify 22:17–21 as the first saying include Hubbard (page 352), Fox (page 707), and Waltke (2004, page 22). Scholars who identify these verses as an introduction to the sayings that follow include Whybray (page 325) and Murphy (page 170). See also the NET footnote (b) on 22:16. Whether these introductory verses form the first saying or simply introduce the following sayings, all scholars agree that they function as an introduction to the whole section. Other versions, such as the NIV, NCV, and NLT, divide the paragraphs in the same way but do not have separate headings for each section. You may use either option in your translation.The NIV11 gives a number as a separate heading for each saying. But it counts the first paragraph as the first saying, and has a total of thirty paragraphs. Other versions have more or fewer paragraphs. For example, the ESV and NRSV have fifteen paragraphs. The NJB has thirty-four. Still other versions, such as the RSV, NET, and NJPS, do not group the verses into sayings or paragraphs.

For the convenience of those who decide to identify the number of each saying in their translation, the Notes will put the number in the paragraph headings, using the same numbering system as the GNT or CEV. These numbers will not be used in the Display.

Paragraph 23:29–35 Saying 18

In this saying, the father indirectly warns his son not to get drunk. He first asks him to identify the kind of person who experiences the effects of drinking (23:29–30). He then warns him to avoid the tempting appearance and taste of wine and gives him a reason for the warning (23:31–32). Finally, he describes what a drunk person imagines, says (23:33) and feels (23:33–34). The last verse gives the drunk person’s concluding words (23:35).UBS (page 506), Fox (page 741), Ross (page 1072).

23:31

This verse has the actual admonition or warning. It probably describes a typical situation in which a person has a glass of wine in front of him and has already tasted it.

^31aDo not gaze at wine while it is red,

^31bwhen it sparkles in the cup

^31cand goes down smoothly.

The father advises the young man not to be enticed by the pleasing appearance (31a–b) and taste (31c).

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted clause) in 23:31b–c. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the command “Do not gaze at wine” from 23:31a. For example:

^31b Do not gaze at wine when it sparkles in the cup,

^31c Do not gaze at wine when it goes down smoothly!

23:31a

Do not gaze at wine while it is red,

Do not look^(sing) longingly at that lovely red wine/drink
Do not allow yourself to be tempted by drink/wine, even though/if its color is red.

Do not gaze at wine: In Hebrew, this command is more literally “Do not look at wine.” It implies that the young man should not look or stare longingly at a glass of wine. He should not allow himself to be tempted to drink too much of it.

while it is red: This clause describes the attractive color of the wine. It does not imply that sometimes wine is a different color.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

Do not stare at the redness of the wine

Don’t let wine tempt you, even though it is rich red (GNT)

Use a natural expression in your language to describe wine that has an enticing or pleasing color.

23:31b

when it sparkles in the cup

that shines in the glass
Admittedly, it gleams/shines in the cup/glass.

when it sparkles in the cup: The Hebrew idiom that the BSB translates as sparkles is literally “shows its eye.” It probably refers to the way that the wine gleams or reflects in the sides of the cup or glass. Some other ways to translate this line are:

as it lends its color to the cup (NJPS)

How it shines inside the glass!

23:31c

and goes down smoothly.

and that tastes so delicious/smooth.
It also feels good/smooth when you^(sing) swallow it.

and goes down smoothly: This line may refer to either the smooth taste of the wine or the way that it feels in the mouth or throat when a person drinks or swallows it. Some other ways to translate it are:

How smoothly it slips down the throat! (NJB)

It goes down so easily (CEV)

General Comment on 23:31a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these lines. For example:

Don’t let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you. (NLT96)

Notice that the NLT96 has left the phrase “in the cup” implied. Another option is to put this phrase in 23:31a, where the command is first introduced. For example:

^31aDo not gaze at the redness of the wine in the cup

^31bor the way that it sparkles

^31cand feels smooth in the throat

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אַל־תֵּ֥רֶא

not look_at

Here, look at implies looking at with pleasure or with the desire to drink the wine. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Do not look with desire for” or “Do not gaze with desire at”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

כִּ֪י יִתְאַ֫דָּ֥ם כִּֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן בַּכּ֣וֹס עֵינ֑⁠וֹ יִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּ⁠מֵישָׁרִֽים

that/for/because/then/when red that/for/because/then/when he/it_gave (Some words not found in UHB: not look_at wine that/for/because/then/when red that/for/because/then/when he/it_gave in,cup eye_of,its goes_down with,smoothness(es) )

These three clauses give reasons why someone is tempted to drink wine, in contrast to the command to not look at it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this contrast more explicit. Alternate translation: “despite it being red, giving its eye in the cup, and going with evenness”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יִתֵּ֣ן בַּכּ֣וֹס עֵינ֑⁠וֹ

he/it_gave (Some words not found in UHB: not look_at wine that/for/because/then/when red that/for/because/then/when he/it_gave in,cup eye_of,its goes_down with,smoothness(es) )

The phrase it gives eye refers to the way wine gleams or reflects light inside a cup. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “it gleams in the cup”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּ⁠מֵישָׁרִֽים

goes_down with,smoothness(es)

Here, the writer implies that the wine goes down a person’s throat smoothly when he drinks it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “it flows down one’s through smoothly”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

23:31 OSHB variant note: ב/כיס: (x-qere) ’בַּ/כּ֣וֹס’: lemma_b/3563 a morph_HRd/Ncfsa id_20GXn בַּ/כּ֣וֹס

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 23:31

Hebrew word order