Living with a clear mind is a theme woven throughout the Bible. Whether it’s about avoiding intoxication or staying alert in a spiritual sense, these verses remind us of the value of a sober and focused life.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Other Religions
Bible Verses About Being Sober
1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober-minded and vigilant against the devil’s schemes
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
1 Thessalonians 5:6 – Be sober and watchful, for we belong to the day
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1
Ephesians 5:18 – Do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” – Ephesians 5:18
Titus 2:2 – Older men should be sober, dignified, and self-controlled
“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.” – Titus 2:2
1 Timothy 3:2-3 – Church leaders must be sober-minded and not indulgent in wine
“Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” – 1 Timothy 3:2-3
Proverbs 23:29-35 – Alcohol leads to woe, sorrow, and strife
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. ‘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?'” – Proverbs 23:29-35
1 Peter 4:7 – Be sober-minded and prayerful in the face of the end times
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” – 1 Peter 4:7
Galatians 5:19-21 – Drunkenness is listed among the works of the flesh
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21
Proverbs 31:4-5 – Leaders should not give themselves to drink, lest they forget justice
“It is not for kings, Lemuel— not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” – Proverbs 31:4-5
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
1 Corinthians 15:34 – Wake up from your drunken stupor and stop sinning
“Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God’s righteousness. I say this to your shame.” – 1 Corinthians 15:34
Isaiah 5:22 – Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
“Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,” – Isaiah 5:22
Proverbs 23:20 – Do not mix with heavy drinkers or crave their delicacies
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,” – Proverbs 23:20
1 Peter 1:13 – Be sober-minded and set your hope fully on the grace to be given to you
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” – 1 Peter 1:13
Proverbs 23:31-32 – Do not look at wine when it is red, for it will deceive you
“Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.” – Proverbs 23:31-32
1 Corinthians 6:10 – Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God
“Nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:10
Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1
Luke 12:45 – The master will cut the unfaithful servant into pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers
“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” – Luke 12:45-46
Proverbs 31:6-7 – Give strong drink to those who are perishing and wine to those in anguish
“Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.” – Proverbs 31:6-7
Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruit of the Spirit is self-control
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
Proverbs 20:9 – Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?
“Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’? – Proverbs 20:9
Proverbs 31:4-5 – Leaders should not give themselves to drink, lest they forget justice
“It is not for kings, Lemuel— not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” – Proverbs 31:4-5
Romans 13:13 – Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” – Romans 13:13
Proverbs 31:4-5 – Leaders should not give themselves to drink, lest they forget justice
“It is not for kings, Lemuel— not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” – Proverbs 31:4-5
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 – Be sober and put on the armor of faith and love
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1
Isaiah 28:7 – Priests and prophets stagger because of strong drink
“And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.” – Isaiah 28:7
Proverbs 23:29-30 – Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife?
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.” – Proverbs 23:29-30
Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1
Titus 2:11-12 – The grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” – Titus 2:11-12
Proverbs 23:20 – Do not mix with heavy drinkers or crave their delicacies
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,” – Proverbs 23:20
Proverbs 31:4-5 – Leaders should not give themselves to drink, lest they forget justice
“It is not for kings, Lemuel— not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” – Proverbs 31:4-5
1 Thessalonians 5:6 – Be sober and watchful, for we belong to the day
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Habakkuk 2:15 – Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring out your wrath and making them drunk
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!” – Habakkuk 2:15
Proverbs 23:34 – You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging
“You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.” – Proverbs 23:34
Proverbs 21:17 – Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich
“Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.” – Proverbs 21:17
Proverbs 23:31 – Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup
“Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!” – Proverbs 23:31
Isaiah 28:7 – Priests and prophets stagger because of strong drink
“And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.” – Isaiah 28:7