Read & explore together
Wine requires moderation and restraint toward companions
Sirach 31:25–31 offers practical wisdom about wine, self-control and conduct at shared meals. It allows for gladness, yet warns clearly that pride, excess and harsh speech can turn a good gift into harm.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this part of Sirach, the writer gives a sequence of short sayings about wine. He moves from warning against showing off, to a comparison about testing, to a contrast between moderate and excessive drinking, and finally to advice about treating a neighbour well at a banquet.
Sirach 31:25–31Main takeaway
Sirach teaches that wine belongs with moderation, because excess stirs harm and wisdom shows itself in restrained treatment of others.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Do not act brave with wineThe first saying warns against presenting yourself as strong or impressive because of wine.
Explanation
The first saying warns against presenting yourself as strong or impressive because of wine. Sirach gives a blunt reason: wine has destroyed many. The concern is not drink as a badge of courage, but the danger of proud overconfidence around it.
02Wine can test what is insideSirach compares wine to a furnace testing steel. In the same way, wine tests hearts in the quarrelling of the proud.
Explanation
Sirach compares wine to a furnace testing steel. In the same way, wine tests hearts in the quarrelling of the proud. The picture suggests that drink can expose what is already within a person, especially pride that breaks out into arguments.
03Moderation brings joyThe passage then speaks positively. Wine is said to be good if drunk in moderation, and created to make men glad.
Explanation
The passage then speaks positively. Wine is said to be good if drunk in moderation, and created to make men glad. Sirach repeats the limit carefully: drunk in season and in moderation, it brings joy of heart and gladness of soul.
04Excess brings damageThe contrast is sharp. Excessive wine brings bitterness of soul, provocation and conflict.
Explanation
The contrast is sharp. Excessive wine brings bitterness of soul, provocation and conflict. Drunkenness increases a fool’s rage to his hurt, diminishes strength and adds wounds. Sirach shows both inward trouble and outward harm when restraint is lost.
05Be gentle with companionsThe final verse applies wisdom at the table. Do not rebuke your neighbour at a banquet of wine, despise him in his mirth, speak reproach, or distress him with demands.
Explanation
The final verse applies wisdom at the table. Do not rebuke your neighbour at a banquet of wine, despise him in his mirth, speak reproach, or distress him with demands. Restraint includes not only drinking, but also words and treatment of others.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What opposite outcomes of wine does Sirach describe?
Notice the contrast between gladness in moderation and bitterness, provocation and conflict in excess.
02How does the furnace comparison explain wine’s effect?
Think about how testing reveals quality, then connect that to hearts and quarrelling.
03Which actions toward a neighbour are forbidden at the banquet?
List the four commands and consider how each protects peace.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 31:25–31
25Don’t show yourself valiant in wine, for wine has destroyed many.
26The furnace tests the temper of steel by dipping; so does wine test hearts in the quarreling of the proud.
27Wine is as good as life to men, if you drink it in moderation. What life is there to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad.
28Wine drunk in season and in moderation is joy of heart and gladness of soul:
29Wine drunk excessively is bitterness of soul, with provocation and conflict.
30Drunkenness increases the rage of a fool to his hurt. It diminishes strength and adds wounds.
31Don’t rebuke your neighbor at a banquet of wine. Don’t despise him in his mirth. Don’t speak a word of reproach to him. Don’t distress him by making demands of him.