Proverbs 23:31

Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles ¹  in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. ² 

2Sa 11:2; Job 33:1; Ps 119:37; Pr 6:25; Mt 5:28-30; Mr 9:47; 1Jo 2:16

¹ tn Heb “its eye gives.” With CEV’s “bubbling up in the glass” one might think champagne was in view.

² tn The expression is difficult, and is suspected of having been added from Song 7:10, although the parallel is not exact. The verb is the Hitpael imperfect of הָלַךְ (halakh); and the prepositional phrase uses the word “upright; equity; pleasing,” from יָשָׁר (yashar). KJV has “when it moveth itself aright”; much more helpful is ASV: “when it goeth down smoothly.” Most recent English versions are similar to ASV. The phrase obviously refers to the pleasing nature of wine.