Proverbs 23:26-28

The son must be careful about sex. Some women sell sex. They are like a deep hole that a hunter uses as a trap for animals. And some married women tempt other men. They are like a narrow well that a man cannot escape from (Jeremiah 38:6-8).

Wells and holes are dangerous whether they are deep or narrow. And sex is dangerous, unless you are with your husband or wife. Sex can cause many troubles.

In verse 28, a robber waits to attack. The wrong woman is as dangerous as a robber. The son might suppose that the woman waits to greet him. Or he might suppose that she loves him. But she does not obey God’s law. And she will cause him, too, to do evil things.

v29 Some people are sad and they cry.

They argue and they complain.

Their eyes are red and their bodies have bruises.

v30 These things happened because wine tempted them.

They went to taste the wine.

v31 Do not look at wine!

Do not say, ‘It is pretty! It is red!’

Do not swallow it!

v32 In the end, wine will hurt you.

Wine is like a poisonous snake, which will bite you.

v33 The alcohol will confuse your brain.

Your eyes will see strange sights.

v34 You will shake like a man who sleeps at sea.

You will feel like a man who balances on a ship.

v35 You will say, ‘The people hit me, but they cannot hurt me.

They whip me, but I feel nothing.

I must awake, because I need more alcohol.’