The Drink Serpent
Proverbs 23:29-35
Who has woe? who has sorrow? who has contentions? who has babbling? who has wounds without cause? who has redness of eyes?…


Drink is like the serpent —

I. BECAUSE IT IS POISONOUS. Alcohol is primarily a brain-poison, but there is not a tissue nor an organ of the body which it does not injure.

II. BECAUSE IT IS SUBTLE (Genesis 3:1). As a rule men glide into drunkenness unconsciously to themselves. Probably the drunkard is the last person to know that he has become such.

III. BECAUSE IT IS LIKE THE DEVIL. In the Scriptures the serpent is the symbol of Satan. Drink, like the devil, leads men into all kinds of sin. The connection of drink with unchastity is set forth in this passage.

(G. A. Bennetts, B.A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

WEB: Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?




Safety Imperceptibly Passed by the Drinker
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