The Perils of Wine

Proverbs 23

Solomon counsels restraint at the table of a ruler, warns against envying sinners or the wealthy, and urges a son to accept correction and honor his aging parents. The chapter closes with a vivid warning against wine, describing the drunkard's staggering ruin and his entanglement with a strange woman.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonWHEN thou sittest down to eat at the table of a ruler, observe diligently what [things] are set before thee:

BrentonIf thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:

GreekἘὰν καθίσῃς δειπνεῖν ἐπὶ τραπέζης δυνάστου, νοητῶς νόει τὰ παρατιθέμενά σοι.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand apply thy hand, knowing that thou must provide the like. But if thou hast an appetite not easily satisfied,

Brentonand apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such meats: but if thou art very insatiable,

GreekΚαὶ ἐπίβαλλε τὴν χεῖρά σου, εἰδὼς ὅτι τοιαῦτά σε δεῖ παρασκευάσαι· εἰ δὲ ἀπληστότερος εἶ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsondesire not his dainties; for they are props of a false life.

Brentondesire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.

Greekμὴ ἐπιθύμει τῶν ἐδεσμάτων αὐτοῦ, ταῦτα γὰρ ἔχεται ζωῆς ψευδοῦς.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonIf thou art poor, enter not into competition with one who is rich: but be restrained by thine own prudence.

BrentonIf thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.

GreekΜὴ παρεκτείνου πένης ὢν πλουσίῳ, τῇ δὲ σῇ ἐννοίᾳ ἀπόσχου.

KJV—

JPSWeary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom. .

Thomson—

BrentonIf thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.

GreekἘὰν ἐπιστήσῃς τὸ σὸν ὄμμα πρὸς αὐτὸν, οὐδαμοῦ φανεῖται· κατεσκεύασται γὰρ αὐτῷ πτέρυγες ὥσπερ ἀετοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέφει εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ προεστηκότος αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPSWilt thou set thine eyes upon it? it is gone; For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.

ThomsonEat not with an envious man, nor desire his meats:

BrentonSup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:

GreekΜὴ συνδείπνει ἀνδρὶ βασκάνῳ, μηδὲ ἐπιθύμει τῶν βρωμάτων αὐτοῦ,

KJVEat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

JPSEat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties;

Thomsonfor he eateth and drinketh as one swallowing a hair. Neither invite him to thy house, nor eat thy morsel with him:

Brentonso he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:

Greekὃν τρόπον γὰρ εἴ τις καταπίοι τρίχα, οὕτως ἐσθίει καὶ πίνει· μηδὲ πρὸς σὲ εἰσαγάγῃς αὐτὸν, καὶ φάγῃς τὸν ψωμόν σου μετʼ αὐτοῦ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonfor he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.

Greekἐξεμέσει γὰρ αὐτὸν, καὶ λυμανεῖται τοὺς λόγους σου τοὺς καλούς.

KJVThe morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

JPSThe morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words.

Thomson—

BrentonSay nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.

GreekΕἰς ὦτα ἄφρονος μηδὲν λέγε, μήποτε μυκτηρίσῃ τοὺς συνετοὺς λόγους σου.

KJVSpeak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

JPSSpeak not in the ears of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

ThomsonRemove not ancient land marks, nor encroach upon the possession of the fatherless.

BrentonRemove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:

GreekΜὴ μεταθῇς ὅρια αἰώνια, εἰς δὲ κτῆμα ὀρφανῶν μὴ εἰσέλθῃς·

KJVRemove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

JPSRemove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless;

ThomsonFor the Lord Who is their redeemer is strong; and will plead their cause with thee.

Brentonfor the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.

GreekὉ γὰρ λυτρούμενος αὐτοὺς Κύριος, κραταιός ἐστι, καὶ κρινεῖ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτῶν μετὰ σοῦ.

KJVFor their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

JPSFor their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause with thee.

ThomsonApply thy heart to instruction; and prepare thine ears for the words of knowledge.

BrentonApply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.

GreekΔὸς εἰς παιδείαν τὴν καρδίαν σου, τὰ δὲ ὦτά σου ἑτοίμασον λόγοις αἰσθήσεως.

KJVApply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

JPSApply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.

ThomsonRefrain not from correcting a child: for if thou beat him with a rod, thou mayst prevent his death.

BrentonRefrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.

GreekΜὴ ἀπόσχῃ νήπιον παιδεύειν, ὅτι ἐὰν πατάξῃς αὐτὸν ῥάβδῳ, οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ.

KJVWithhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

JPSWithhold not correction from the child; For though thou beat him with the rod, he will not die.

ThomsonFor thou wilt beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from death.

BrentonFor thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death.

GreekΣυ μὲν γὰρ πατάξεις αὐτὸν ῥάβδῳ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου ῥύσῃ.

KJVThou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

JPSThou beatest him with the rod, And wilt deliver his soul from the nether-world.

ThomsonMy son, if thy heart be wise, thou wilt gladden my heart;

BrentonSon, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;

GreekΥἱὲ, ἐὰν σοφὴ γένηταί σου ἡ καρδία, εὐφρανεῖς καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν καρδίαν,

KJVMy son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

JPSMy son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine;

Thomsonand thy lips, if they be right, will hold long conversation with mine.

Brentonand thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.

Greekκαὶ ἐνδιατρίψει λόγοις τὰ σὰ χείλη πρὸς τὰ ἐμὰ χείλη ἐὰν ὀρθὰ ὦσι.

KJVYea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

JPSYea, my reins will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.

ThomsonLet not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

BrentonLet not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.

GreekΜὴ ζηλούτω ἡ καρδία σου ἁμαρτωλοὺς, ἀλλὰ ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου ἴσθι ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν.

KJVLet not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

JPSLet not thy heart envy sinners, But be in the fear of the LORD all the day;

ThomsonIf thou indeed keep these instructions, they will be a progeny to thee and thy hope shall not perish.

BrentonFor if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.

GreekἘὰν γὰρ τηρήσῃς αὐτὰ, ἔσται σοι ἔκγονα, ἡ δὲ ἐλπίς σου οὐκ ἀποστήσεται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHear, my son, and be wise, and direct the thoughts of thy heart aright.

BrentonHear, my son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.

GreekἌκουε υἱὲ, καὶ σοφὸς γίνου, καὶ κατεύθυνε ἐννοίας σῆς καρδίας.

KJVHear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

JPSHear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.

ThomsonBe not a wine-bibber, nor devoted to clubs: and to the purchasing of flesh meat.

BrentonBe not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:

GreekΜὴ ἴσθι οἰνοπότης, μηδὲ ἐκτείνου συμβολαῖς, κρεῶν τε ἀγορασμοῖς.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonfor every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.

GreekΠᾶς γὰρ μέθυσος καὶ πορνοκόπος πτωχεύσει, καὶ ἐνδύσεται διεῤῥηγμένα καὶ ῥακώδη πᾶς ὑπνώδης.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHearken, my son, to the father who begot thee; and despise not thy mother because she is old.

BrentonHearken, my son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not thy mother because she is grown old.

GreekἌκουε, υἱὲ, πατρὸς τοῦ γεννήσαντός σε, καὶ μὴ καταφρόνει ὅτι γεγήρακέ σου ἡ μήτηρ.

KJVHearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

JPSHearken unto thy father that begot thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.

ThomsonA righteous father nourisheth thee well; and his soul rejoiceth in a wise son.

BrentonA righteous father brings up his children well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.

GreekΚαλῶς ἐκτρέφει πατὴρ δίκαιος, ἐπὶ δὲ υἱῷ σοφῷ εὐφραίνεται ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ.

KJVThe father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

JPSThe father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; and he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.

ThomsonLet thy father and thy mother have joy in thee: and let her who bare thee rejoice.

BrentonLet thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.

GreekΕὐφραινέσθω ὁ πατὴρ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ ἐπὶ σοὶ, καὶ χαιρέτω ἡ τεκοῦσά σε.

KJVThy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

JPSLet thy father and thy mother be glad, and let her that bore thee rejoice.

ThomsonMy son, give me thy heart; and let thine eyes observe my ways.

BrentonMy son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

GreekΔός μοι υἱὲ σὴν καρδίαν, οἱ δὲ σοὶ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἐμὰς ὁδοὺς τηρείτωσαν.

KJVMy son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

JPSMy son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. .

ThomsonFor a strange house is a hogshead full of holes: and a strange well is narrow.

BrentonFor a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.

GreekΠίθος γὰρ τετρημένος ἐστὶν ἀλλότριος οἶκος, καὶ φρέαρ στενὸν ἀλλότριον.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor that will quickly perish; and every transgressor shall be destroyed.

BrentonFor such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.

GreekΟὗτος γὰρ συντόμως ἀπολεῖται, καὶ πᾶς παράνομος ἀναλωθήσεται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWho hath woes? Who hath trouble? Who hath law suits? Who hath vexations and squabbles? Who hath wounds without cause?

BrentonWho has woe? who trouble? who has quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who has bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?

GreekΤίνι οὐαί; τίνι θόρυβος; τίνι κρίσεις; τίνι δὲ ἀηδίαι καὶ λέσχαι; τίνι συντρίμματα διακενῆς; τίνος πελιδνοὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί;

KJVWho hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

JPSWho crieth: ‘Woe’? who: ‘Alas’? Who hath contentions? who hath raving? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

ThomsonWhose are the eyes suffused with blood? Are they not theirs who tarry long at wine—who frequent the places where there are revels? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with righteous men, and converse in the public walks.

BrentonAre not those of them that stay long at wine? are not those of them that haunt the places where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse with them openly.

GreekΟὐ τῶν ἐγχρονιζόντων ἐν οἴνοις; οὐ τῶν ἰχνευόντων ποῦ πότοι γίνονται; μὴ μεθύσκεσθε ἐν οἴνοις, ἀλλὰ ὁμιλεῖτε ἀνθρώποις δικαίοις καὶ ὁμιλεῖτε ἐν περιπάτοις.

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

JPSThey that tarry long at the wine; They that go to try mixed wine.

ThomsonFor if thou givest thine eyes to cups and goblets, thou wilt go about afterwards naked as a pestle

BrentonFor if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.

GreekἘὰν γὰρ εἰς τὰς φιάλας καὶ τὰ ποτήρια δῷς τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου, ὕστερον περιπατήσεις γυμνότερος ὑπέρου.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand be, at last, like one swollen by the bite of a serpent; or as one stung by a basilisk.

BrentonBut at last such a one stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.

GreekΤὸ δὲ ἔσχατον ὥσπερ ὑπὸ ὄφεως πεπληγὼς ἐκτείνεται, καὶ ὥσπερ ὑπὸ κεράστου διαχεῖται αὐτῷ ὁ ἰός.

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

JPSAt the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like a basilisk.

ThomsonWhen thine eyes behold a strange woman; then will thy mouth speak perversely.

BrentonWhenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.

GreekΟἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὅταν ἴδωσιν ἀλλοτρίαν, τὸ στόμα σου τότε λαλήσει σκολιά.

KJVThine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

JPSThine eyes shall behold strange things, and thy heart shall utter confused things.

ThomsonAnd thou wilt lie as in the midst of the sea: and like a pilot in a mighty storm.

BrentonAnd thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.

GreekΚαὶ κατακείσῃ ὥσπερ ἐν καρδίᾳ θαλάσσης, καὶ ὥσπερ κυβερνήτης ἐν πολλῷ κλύδωνι.

KJVYea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

JPSYea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

ThomsonAnd thou wilt say, They have beaten me and I felt no pain; they insulted me and I was not sensible of it. When will it be day, that I may go and seek with whom I can have a meeting.

BrentonAnd thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?

GreekἘρεῖς δὲ, τύπτουσί με καὶ οὐκ ἐπόνεσα, καὶ ἐνέπαιξάν μοι, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ ᾔδειν· πότε ὄρθρος ἔσται, ἵνα ἐλθὼν ζητήσω μεθʼ ὧν συνελεύσομαι;

KJVThey have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

JPS’They have struck me, and I felt it not, they have beaten me, and I knew it not; when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.’