Proverbs 23:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”

NIV: They hit me,' you will say, 'but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?'

NASB: 'They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I awake? I will seek another drink.'

CSB: "They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it! When will I wake up? I'll look for another drink."

NLT: And you will say, 'They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?'

KJV: They 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.

NKJV: “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

In a drunken stupor, one can be almost oblivious to pain. Even when covered with bruises, he says, "They struck me, but I was not hurt." His thoughts are not on his pain, but on the next drink. While this sounds like a good thing, pain is one of the ways our bodies warn us of danger. Being numbed to pain means being unaware of harm being done to the body. This is one of the many consequences of intoxication given in this passage of the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 23:29–34). Insensitivity, lack of awareness, lack of inhibition, and blurred senses are why alcohol factors into so many accidents, acts of violence, and life-altering mistakes.

Rather than recoil at this, a person controlled by alcohol instead seeks to get back to a drunken state. Solomon's warnings about the abuse of alcohol should be taken seriously by everyone, but especially by believers. Believers are clearly commanded not to be controlled by wine, "for that is debauchery," but to be controlled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). When alcohol controls a person, he is unable to do what he should do. He does only what his instincts and the world around him push him to do. However, the believer who is controlled by the Spirit does what he ought to do and lives according to God's will (Ephesians 5:15–21).

Proverbs 23:26–35 contains a portion of thirty wise sayings endorsed by Solomon (Proverbs 22:17–21). In verse 26, he again pleads for his words to be heard. The warnings given here are more extensive than most others in this book. The first sounds an alarm about sexual temptation, comparing it to a trap or an ambush. The second goes to great lengths discouraging drunkenness, because of its effects and the danger of addiction.

This portion of wise sayings (Proverbs 22:17–21) starts with the sixth of thirty mentioned in chapter 22. These include advice on presenting oneself well to a host, while not being unduly influenced by such hospitality. The passage also speaks on the right time to share wisdom, ethics, discipline, and the joys associated with godly children. Also included are warnings about relationships and those who lack self-control. The chapter ends with the Bible's most strident warning about the dangers of alcohol abuse; this is the eighteenth of the thirty promised teachings.

This chapter continues Solomon's collection of the sayings of wise men (Proverbs 22:17–21). These lessons continue through Proverbs 24:34. Here, Solomon addresses his "son," perhaps meaning a student, with warnings about money, gluttony, speaking in the company of a fool, dishonesty, withholding discipline from a child, keeping company with drunkards, and the abuse of alcohol. The description of alcohol's risks is the most extensive such caution given in Scripture.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.