Isaiah 28:7-8

28:7 Even these men ¹  stagger because of wine,

they stumble around because of beer –

priests and prophets stagger because of beer,

they are confused ²  because of wine,

they stumble around because of beer;

they stagger while seeing prophetic visions, ³ 

they totter while making legal decisions. ⁴ 

28:8 Indeed, all the tables are covered with vomit;

no place is untouched. ⁵ 

Proverbs 20:1

20:1 Wine ⁶  is a mocker ⁷  and strong drink is a brawler;

whoever goes astray by them is not wise. ⁸ 

Proverbs 23:32

23:32 Afterward ⁹  it bites like a snake,

and stings like a viper.

[28:7]  ¹ tn Heb “these.” The demonstrative pronoun anticipates “priests and prophets” two lines later.

[28:7]  ² tn According to HALOT 135 s.v. III בלע, the verb form is derived from בָּלַע (bala’, “confuse”), not the more common בָּלַע (“swallow”). See earlier notes at 3:12 and 9:16.

[28:7]  ³ tn Heb “in the seeing.”

[28:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “[in] giving a decision.”

[28:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “vomit, without a place.” For the meaning of the phrase בְּלִי מָקוֹם (bÿli maqom, “without a place”), see HALOT 133 s.v. בְּלִי.

[20:1]  ⁶ sn The drinks are wine and barley beer (e.g., Lev 10:9; Deut 14:26; Isa 28:7). These terms here could be understood as personifications, but better as metonymies for those who drink wine and beer. The inebriated person mocks and brawls.

[20:1]  ⁷ tn The two participles לֵץ (lets, “mocker”) and הֹמֶה (homeh, “brawler”) are substantives; they function as predicates in the sentence. Excessive use of intoxicants excites the drinker to boisterous behavior and aggressive attitudes – it turns them into mockers and brawlers.

[20:1]  ⁸ sn The proverb does not prohibit the use of wine or beer; in fact, strong drink was used at festivals and celebrations. But intoxication was considered out of bounds for a member of the covenant community (e.g., 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:4-7). To be led astray by their use is not wise.

[23:32]  ⁹ tn Heb “its end”; NASB “At the last”; TEV (interpretively) “The next morning.”