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20 Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled;
    it is not wise to get drunk on them.

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20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D)

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19 Listen, my child, and be wise.
    Keep your mind on what is right.
20 Don’t drink too much wine
    or eat too much food.
21 Those who drink and eat too much become poor.
    They sleep too much and end up wearing rags.

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Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(A) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(B)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(C)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

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29 Who has trouble? Who has pain?
    Who fights? Who complains?
Who has unnecessary bruises?
    Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 It is people who drink too much wine,
    who try out all different kinds of strong drinks.
31 Don’t stare at the wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly.
32 Later it bites like a snake
    with poison in its fangs.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will be confused.
34 You will feel dizzy as if you’re in a storm on the ocean,
    as if you’re on top of a ship’s sails.
35 You will think, “They hit me, but I’m not hurt.
    They beat me up, but I don’t remember it.
I wish I could wake up.
    Then I would get another drink.”

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Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(A)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”(B)

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