Proverbs — Chapter 9
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1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
1Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:
3She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
5Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
7He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot.
8Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9Give [instruction] to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13The foolish woman is clamorous; [She is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
14And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,
15To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
17Stolen waters are sweet, And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
1Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars.
2She has prepared her meat, she has mixed her wine; she also has arranged her table.
3She has sent out her female servants; she calls out on the highest places of the city.
4“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here.” To those who lack understanding, she has said,
5“Come, eat some of my food, and drink some of the wine I have mixed.
6Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”
7Whoever corrects a mocker is asking for insult; whoever reproves a wicked person receives abuse.
8Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
10The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.
11For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you have mocked, you alone must bear it.
13The woman called Folly is brash; she is naive and does not know anything.
14And she has sat down at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15calling out to those who are passing by her in the way, who go straight on their way.
16“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” To those who lack understanding she has said,
17“Stolen waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!”
18But they do not realize that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
1Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
7He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Summary
The final contrast of the discourse section — Lady Wisdom builds her house and hosts a feast, inviting the simple; Folly also sits and calls, but her guests end in Sheol. 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.'
Authorship & Background
- Lady Wisdom's Banquet (vv.1-6)
- The Wise vs. the Scoffer (vv.7-12)
- Lady Folly's Banquet (vv.13-18)
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the parallel structure: both Wisdom and Folly call from the same high places to the same audience. The simple person must choose which invitation to accept. He notes that Folly's only selling point is transgression itself — "stolen waters are sweet." She has no genuine product, only the thrill of the forbidden. On v.8, Guzik states the practical test: "If you can't receive correction, you're not wise — regardless of how much you know."
- Charles Spurgeon: "Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. This is the infallible mark of wisdom: the love of correction. Not the mere tolerance of it — the LOVE of it. The wise man sees the rebuker as a friend, not an enemy. He knows that faithful wounds are better than deceitful kisses. If you want to know whether you are growing in wisdom, ask yourself: am I more or less receptive to correction than I was a year ago? The direction of your answer reveals the direction of your soul."
Reflection
- 1. Both wisdom and folly are calling (vv.3-4, 14-16). Every day you hear both voices. Both sound inviting. Both promise satisfaction. The question is: which invitation will you accept? Learn to recognize the voices. Wisdom calls openly with truth; Folly lures secretly with the thrill of the forbidden.
- 2. How you respond to correction reveals everything (v.8). Do you love correction or hate it? Do you thank the person who points out your error, or do you resent them? This single test separates the wise from the foolish more reliably than any other. Cultivate a heart that welcomes rebuke.
- 3. "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself" (v.12). The benefits of wisdom accrue to YOU. The costs of folly are paid by YOU. No one else can be wise for you, and no one else suffers your foolishness as much as you do. This is deeply personal. Take ownership.
- 4. Sin's only appeal is the thrill of transgression (v.17). "Stolen waters are sweet." If it weren't forbidden, it wouldn't be exciting. Recognize this: sin has no genuine substance — only the adrenaline of rebellion. When you strip away the illicit thrill, what remains? Nothing. Emptiness. Death.
- 5. Know what's behind the door (v.18). Before you accept any invitation — to a relationship, a lifestyle, a decision — ask: who else accepted this invitation, and where are they now? Folly's guest list is the dead. Check the outcomes before you RSVP.