Proverbs 9:16

16 "Whoever is simple, may he turn here!" As for he who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

Proverbs 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 9:16

Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither
The harlot's house, Popish chapels and churches. She uses the same form of words that Wisdom does, ( Proverbs 9:4 ) ; having a form of godliness, a show of religion, but without the power of it; her priests are wolves in sheep's clothing, and speak lies in hypocrisy: and such that she fixes upon as proper persons to work on are the simple, the credulous and unwary; who are not on their guard, and are easily persuaded and imposed on;

and [as for] him that wanteth understanding;
is not well grounded in the principles of Christianity he professes; has not a spiritual and experimental understanding of them:

she saith to him;
addresses him in such language as follows:

Proverbs 9:16 In-Context

14 She sits at the door of her house, upon a throne [at the] high places of town,

15 [in order] to call to those who pass by the road, those who go straight [on] their way:

16 "Whoever is simple, may he turn here!" As for he who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

17 "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant."

18 But he does not know that the dead [are] there, in the depths of Sheol [are] her guests.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "heart"