Proverbs chapter 9
The way of wisdom. They way of folly.
Like this chapter of the Bible, our comments are sexually explicit.
THE WAY OF WISDOM
VERSE 1. Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
has built. This is in the past tense. Lady Wisdom has already built her house.
house. This can also be translated as “temple.”
seven pillars. This suggests the house was large and spacious.
That is consistent with a theme in the Book of Proverbs that wisdom correlates with wealth.
VERSE 2. She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
VERSE 3. She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
sent out her maidens. It is urgent that we reach out to other people. The Lord Jesus Christ calls us to go out and evangelize nonbelievers. Read more »
from the highest places of the city. This was an elevated spot where many people would hear the invitation.
Folly also calls from a high point, as we see in verse 14 below.
VERSE 4. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
VERSE 5. “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
eat … drink. Wisdom calls us to eat her food and drink her wine.
What is the food and wine that wisdom refers to? It is almost certainly the Torah. To eat her food and drink her wine is to study the Torah.
VERSE 6. Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
VERSE 7. One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
NAB translation: He who corrects an arrogant man earns insult; and he who reproves a wicked man incurs opprobrium.
Some people are always raging out. They are to be avoided, not esteemed. Read more »
an arrogant man. Hotheaded people turn against anyone who offers them even tiny slivers of godly wisdom.
earns insult. A hothead will ruin the day of anyone offering the wisdom.
incurs opprobrium. The hothead will bring about extreme disgrace (opprobrium) for the godly person.
VERSE 8. Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
VERSE 9. Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
VERSE 10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
fear of the LORD. Many people mistakenly think the “fear of the LORD” means to be terrified of God. But it actually means “reverential respect for God.” Read more »
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. Do you know them? Do you have a love-relationship with them? Read more »
VERSE 11. For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
VERSE 12. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
THE WAY OF FOLLY
VERSE 13. The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
VERSE 14. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
sits at the door of her house. Lady Wisdom had searched out her guests. But Madam Folly merely sits at the door and calls out.
in the high places of the city. This was an elevated spot where many people would hear the invitation.
Wisdom also calls from a high place, as we see in verse 3 above.
VERSE 15. to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
VERSE 16. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
VERSE 17. “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
Stolen water. In the Book of Proverbs, the drinking of water refers to a husband giving his wife cunnilingus, as we saw in our exploration of Proverbs chapter 5:
Proverbs 5:15. Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
In that light, “stolen water” refers to a sexual affair such as we saw in Proverbs chapter 7:
Proverbs 7:18-19. Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving. 19 For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.
VERSE 18. But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
departed spirits are there. Being in a close relationship with Folly leads to death.
PROVERBS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Sluggard, Tree of Life, Misogynism
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.