Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

‘They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.’ The answers to the questions are straightforward. The person experiencing these troubles is the one who lingers over wine and continually seeks a stronger drink. The problem is not merely tasting wine but remaining with it, making drinking a habit and pursuing intoxication.

‘Wine’ – the Hebrew word yayin is a general term used throughout the Old Testament for the juice of grapes and, depending on the context, can refer to either fermented or unfermented grape juice. In this passage, however, the context makes it clear that Solomon is speaking of intoxicating wine, as he describes drunkenness and its harmful effects.

‘Mixed wine’ was wine strengthened or enhanced with spices or other ingredients to increase its flavour or potency. The emphasis is upon deliberately seeking a stronger intoxicating drink. Instead of warning only against drunkenness, Scripture warns against pursuing the very thing that leads to it.

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

Six curses of drunkenness: [1] Woe refers to deep distress, misery, and calamity. The drunkard often experiences broken relationships, financial hardship, poor decisions, loss of respect, and continual trouble. What begins as pleasure frequently ends in pain. [2] Sorrow – alcohol cannot permanently remove grief. Instead, it often creates greater sorrow through guilt, shame, broken families, poor health, and regret over sinful actions. Many drink to escape pain, yet alcohol often multiplies the very sorrows they seek to forget. [3] Contentions – drunkenness commonly produces arguments, violence, domestic conflict, broken friendships, and legal troubles. Alcohol weakens self-control and impairs sound judgment. [4] Babbling – the Hebrew idea includes foolish, senseless, or uncontrolled speech. The drunkard often says embarrassing things, is offensive, reveals hidden thoughts, or causes lasting damage. Scripture repeatedly teaches that a wise person exercises restraint in speech. [5] Wounds without cause – these are injuries received through reckless behaviour. The drunkard may awaken bruised or injured without remembering how it happened. Many accidents, assaults, and self-inflicted injuries result from impaired judgment. [6] Redness of eyes – red or bloodshot eyes become an outward sign of inward excess. What begins as a hidden indulgence eventually becomes visible to everyone. Sin rarely remains concealed forever.

To be continued…

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

The final section of Proverbs 23 contains one of the Bible’s clearest and most vivid warnings against drunkenness. Scripture does not merely forbid drinking; it describes its progression from temptation, to intoxication, to moral corruption, to addiction, and finally to self-destruction.

The passage unfolds like a series of scenes: The misery of the drunkard (vv. 29-30), the temptation of alcohol (v. 31), the consequences of drinking wine and stronger drinks (vv. 32-34), and the bondage of addiction (v. 35).

‘Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?’ These rhetorical questions invite the reader to consider the result of drinking. The drunkard often excuses his drinking as a means of escaping life’s pressures, relaxing after work, relieving emotional pain, or forgetting his troubles for a while. However, Scripture exposes these as false comforts. Alcohol may dull the senses for a short time, but it cannot remove the causes of sorrow or bring lasting peace. Instead, it often multiplies the very problems it promises to relieve, leading to grief, conflict, poor judgment, physical harm, and spiritual decline. Wisdom therefore teaches us to evaluate not the passing pleasure of indulgence, but its lasting consequences, for sin always promises more than it can deliver and ultimately leaves its victims worse than before.

To be continued…