Proverbs 23:35

23:35 You will say, ¹  “They have struck me, but I am not harmed!

They beat me, but I did not know it! ² 

When will I awake? I will look for another drink.” ³ 

Proverbs 28:5

28:5 Evil people ⁴  do not understand justice, ⁵ 

but those who seek the Lord ⁶  understand it all.

[23:35]  ¹ tn The phrase “You will say” is supplied in the translation to make it clear that the drunkard is now speaking.

[23:35]  ² sn The line describes how one who is intoxicated does not feel the pain, even though beaten by others. He does not even remember it.

[23:35]  ³ tn The last line has only “I will add I will seek it again.” The use of אוֹסִיף (’osif) signals a verbal hendiadys with the next verb: “I will again seek it.” In this context the suffix on the verb refers to the wine – the drunkard wants to go and get another drink.

[28:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “men of evil”; the context does not limit this to males only, however.

[28:5]  ⁵ tn The term translated “justice” is מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat); it refers to the legal rights of people, decisions that are equitable in the community. W. G. Plaut observes that there are always those who think that “justice” is that which benefits them, otherwise it is not justice (Proverbs, 282).

[28:5]  ⁶ sn The contrast (and the difference) is between the wicked and those who seek the Lord. Originally the idea of seeking the Lord meant to obtain an oracle (2 Sam 21:1), but then it came to mean devotion to God – seeking to learn and do his will. Only people who are interested in doing the Lord’s will can fully understand justice. Without that standard, legal activity can become self-serving.