1 The drinks are wine and barley beer (e.g., Lev 10:9; Deut 14:26; Isa 28:7). These terms here could be understood as personifications, but better as metonymies for those who drink wine and beer. The inebriated person mocks and brawls.
2 The two participles לֵץ (lets, “mocker”) and הֹמֶה (homeh, “brawler”) are substantives; they function as predicates in the sentence. Excessive use of intoxicants excites the drinker to boisterous behavior and aggressive attitudes—it turns them into mockers and brawlers.
3 The proverb does not prohibit the use of wine or beer; in fact, strong drink was used at festivals and celebrations. But intoxication was considered out of bounds for a member of the covenant community (e.g., 23:20–21, 29–35; 31:4–7). To be led astray by their use is not wise.
4 Heb “the terror of a king” (so , ); The term “terror” is a metonymy of effect for cause: the anger of a king that causes terror among the people. The term “king” functions as a possessive genitive: “a king’s anger” (cf. “A king’s wrath”; “The king’s fury”).
5 The verb מִתְעַבְּרוֹ (mit’abbéro) is problematic; in the the form is the Hitpael participle with a pronominal suffix, which is unusual, for the direct object of this verb usually takes a preposition first: “is angry with.” The rendered it “angers [or, irritates].”
6 The expression “sins against himself” has been taken by some to mean “forfeits his life” (so , , , ) or “endangers his life” (cf. , ). That may be the implication of getting oneself in trouble with an angry king (cf. “making him angry is suicide”).
7 Heb “man.”
8 Heb “cessation” (שֶׁבֶת, shevet); “to shun strife”; “refrain from strife.” One cannot avoid conflict altogether; but the proverb is instructing that at the first sign of conflict the honorable thing to do is to find a way to end it.
9 Heb “breaks out.” The Hitpael of the verb גָּלַע (gala’, “to expose; to lay bare”) means “to break out; to disclose oneself,” and so the idea of flaring up in a quarrel is clear. But there are also cognate connections to the idea of “showing the teeth; snarling” and so quarreling viciously.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

but every fool will be quarreling.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;

those who anger him forfeit their lives.

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler;

whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.

A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;

anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,

but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

NLTNew Living Translation

Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.

Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;

to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;

only fools insist on quarreling.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and any who go astray by it are not wise.

Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;

he who provokes him forfeits his life.

It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,

but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

KJV 1900King James Version

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:

And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:

Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:

But every fool will be meddling.

Public Domain