‘They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.’ Proverbs 23:30 After listing the sorrows and wounds of the previous verse, Scripture now identifies the cause. The issue is not merely drinking, but lingering—tarrying long. It describes a heart that does not simply encounter temptation but pursues it, seeks it, and settles into it. The phrase “mixed wine” suggests intensified indulgence, carefully crafted to heighten effect. What begins as casual becomes intentional. The Bible consistently warns about this progression. Isaiah speaks of those who “continue until night, till wine inflame them.” Ephesians contrasts being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit, showing that what fills the heart shapes the life. The danger is not only in excess, but in desire that plans for excess. When a person seeks the next stronger mixture, the appetite has moved from enjoyment to mastery. Scripture often shows that sin grows through lingering. Proverbs 7 describes the young man passing near her corner and going the way to her house. He did not fall instantly; he lingered. Psalm 1 warns against walking, standing, and sitting in ungodly influence. The longer one remains in the presence of temptation, the weaker resistance becomes. Tarrying creates familiarity, and familiarity dulls warning. God’s Word also emphasizes sobriety and watchfulness. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant.” Sobriety is not merely abstinence; it is alertness. Paul urges believers to walk honestly, not in rioting and drunkenness. The Spirit-filled life cultivates clarity of mind and steadiness of heart. Lingering at the place of excess clouds both. Practically, Proverbs 23:30 calls for proactive boundaries. It warns against environments and habits that nurture appetite rather than discipline it. The verse challenges believers to ask not only what they allow, but what they seek. Wisdom recognizes that repeated pursuit shapes desire, and desire shapes destiny. Choosing not to tarry protects both clarity and calling, preserving the soul for God’s purposes.

‘Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?’ Proverbs 23:29 This verse begins a sober reflection on the visible and invisible consequences of intoxication and excess. The repeated questions invite self-examination. Instead of immediately naming the cause, Scripture lists the fruit—woe, sorrow, strife, uncontrolled speech, unexplained injury, and physical deterioration. It forces the reader to consider the pattern before revealing the source. The Bible consistently links such outcomes with lack of self-control. Proverbs 20:1 declares, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” What promises relaxation often produces regret. Isaiah warns of those who rise early to follow strong drink, showing how indulgence reshapes priorities. The sorrow described in Proverbs 23:29 is not accidental; it flows from choices that cloud judgment and inflame impulses. Contentions and babbling reveal how intoxication weakens restraint. James teaches that the tongue is a fire capable of great destruction. When judgment is dulled, speech becomes reckless, relationships fracture, and conflict multiplies. “Wounds without cause” suggest harm suffered without clear memory or reason—physical, emotional, or relational damage that follows a night of excess. Scripture warns that sin rarely confines its consequences to the moment of indulgence. Yet the passage is not merely condemnation; it is caution. Paul exhorts believers in Ephesians to “be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” The contrast is clear: one filling produces chaos and regret; the other produces clarity and self-control. The Spirit brings peace, patience, and soundness of mind, while intoxication removes them. Practically, Proverbs 23:29 calls believers to trace outcomes back to causes. It encourages honest reflection on habits that produce sorrow and conflict. The verse invites wisdom before regret, discipline before damage. God’s warning is protective, not restrictive. He reveals the fruit so that we may avoid the root and choose the path that leads to life and peace.

‘She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.’ Proverbs 23:28 This verse continues the warning about sexual immorality by revealing its predatory nature. Sin is not passive; it lies in wait. The imagery is of a hunter watching carefully for vulnerability. Temptation often studies weakness, waiting for moments of loneliness, pride, anger, or fatigue. What appears spontaneous is often strategic. Scripture frequently describes sin as something that stalks. In Genesis 4, the Lord told Cain, “Sin lieth at the door.” It waits for opportunity. 1 Peter 5 warns that the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Proverbs 7 depicts the strange woman meeting the naive young man at twilight, in the dark and black night. Temptation thrives in secrecy and unguarded moments. The phrase “increaseth the transgressors” reveals that immorality does not end with one act; it multiplies rebellion. James 1 explains that lust, when conceived, brings forth sin, and sin, when finished, brings forth death. Sin spreads influence, normalizing disobedience and drawing others into the same pattern. What begins privately can become generationally destructive. Scripture contrasts this with the protection found in wisdom. Proverbs 4 commands, “Enter not into the path of the wicked.” Paul exhorts believers to abstain from all appearance of evil. Joseph’s example in Genesis 39 shows the power of immediate flight—he did not negotiate, he fled. Preservation requires decisive action before temptation tightens its grip. Practically, Proverbs 23:28 calls believers to alertness and proactive boundaries. It teaches that sin often waits quietly, looking for compromised defenses. Guarding the heart, managing environments, and maintaining accountability are not signs of weakness but of wisdom. The verse reminds us that temptation seeks to increase transgression, but obedience, vigilance, and reverence for God break the cycle before it begins.

‘For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.’ Proverbs 23:27 The imagery is deliberate and sobering. A deep ditch and a narrow pit are not easily escaped once fallen into. Scripture uses these metaphors to describe the destructive nature of sexual immorality. What may appear enticing at first glance conceals depth and confinement beneath the surface. Sin in this area does not merely stumble a person; it traps them. Throughout Proverbs, this warning is repeated with urgency. Proverbs 5 describes the strange woman’s lips dropping as honey, yet her end being bitter as wormwood. Proverbs 7 portrays a young man void of understanding being drawn away, “as an ox goeth to the slaughter.” The danger lies not only in the act, but in the deception preceding it. Desire clouds judgment, and once entangled, escape becomes difficult and costly. Scripture consistently connects sexual immorality with spiritual and practical ruin. 1 Corinthians 6 says, “Flee fornication,” explaining that such sin uniquely affects one’s own body. Hebrews 13 declares that whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Samson’s downfall began with unchecked desire, and David’s fall with Bathsheba brought lasting consequences despite forgiveness. The pit is narrow because sin constricts freedom, isolating and binding the soul. Yet Scripture also provides a path of preservation. Proverbs 2 says wisdom delivers from the strange woman. Psalm 119 declares, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Job made a covenant with his eyes, recognizing that guarding the gaze protects the heart. Victory begins long before temptation reaches its peak. Practically, Proverbs 23:27 calls for vigilance, boundaries, and humility. It warns against flirting with temptation under the illusion of control. The verse invites believers to see beyond the surface appeal and consider the depth of consequence. God’s design for purity is not restriction, but protection—preserving dignity, clarity, and covenant faithfulness. The pit is deep, but wisdom keeps the feet on firm ground.

‘My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.’ Proverbs 23:26 This is one of the most tender and direct appeals in all of Proverbs. Before instruction is given, before correction is applied, the father asks for the heart. Scripture reveals that obedience without the heart is hollow. God has always desired inward surrender above outward conformity. The call here is relational before it is instructional. Throughout the Bible, the heart is the center of devotion and direction. Proverbs 4:23 commands, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” God told Israel in Deuteronomy to love Him with all their heart. When Samuel confronted Saul, he exposed that partial obedience without surrendered heart was rebellion. The Lord seeks more than compliance; He seeks affection, trust, and loyalty. The second phrase, “let thine eyes observe my ways,” shows that the heart shapes perception. What we love determines what we follow. Psalm 119 says, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” Jesus taught that the eye is the lamp of the body, and if it is single, the whole body is full of light. When the heart is given to God, the eyes naturally look toward His ways, studying and imitating them. Christ embodies this appeal perfectly. He said, “Learn of me,” inviting disciples not only to follow His commands but to know His heart. He also declared, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” linking love and obedience inseparably. God’s request for the heart is not control, but covenant. He desires intimacy that transforms behavior from within. Practically, Proverbs 23:26 calls believers to examine whether their devotion is wholehearted. It challenges superficial religion and divided affection. Giving God the heart means surrendering motives, desires, ambitions, and hidden thoughts. When the heart is yielded, obedience flows naturally, and the eyes learn to delight in His ways. This verse reminds us that true wisdom begins not with rules, but with relationship.