Proverbs 23:29

Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
– Proverbs 23:29

Verses 29-35 form the last saying in this chapter and it is a character study of the drunkard. The saying begins with a riddle that will be answered in the next verse. We are presented with six questions describing a deplorable condition. The word for woe means a lamentation, or a cry of grief. The word for sorrow means an exclamation of pain. The word for contentions means strife, or arguments. The word for babbling means complaining. The word for wounds means injuries. They are without cause, meaning for no reason and indicating the unjust suffering of the complainer. The word for redness describes bleariness, or eyes appearing tired and bloodshot. The sketch pictures one with bloodshot eyes constantly complaining of all the troubles he’s seen while being an innocent victim.

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