Proverbs 9:8-18

8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For through wisdom^[a] your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.

14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,

16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,

17 “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”

18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Proverbs 9:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 9

In this chapter, Wisdom, or Christ, is represented as having built a stately house or palace for the entertainment of his guests, Pr 9:1; as having made large and suitable provisions for them, Pr 9:2; and as having sent his servants to invite them to come and partake of them, and quit all other company but his, Pr 9:3-6; When it is observed who are and who are not to be reproved, with the reasons of it, Pr 9:7-9; and what is the sum and substance of true wisdom; and what the advantages of it both here and hereafter, Pr 9:10-12; And the chapter is concluded with the description of the foolish woman, the opposite of Wisdom; who is represented as clamorous, simple, and ignorant, Pr 9:13; and plying passengers that go by her door, and inviting them in to partake of her provisions, Pr 9:14-17; the consequence of which is sure and certain death and destruction to her guests, Pr 9:18.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 15:12
• 2. Psalms 141:5
• 3. Proverbs 1:5,7; Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 14:6; Proverbs 15:31; Proverbs 19:25
• 4. Job 28:28; S Proverbs 1:7
• 5. Psalms 22:3; Proverbs 30:3
• 6. S Deuteronomy 4:6
• 7. S Genesis 15:15; S Deuteronomy 11:21; S Proverbs 3:1-2; Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 10:27
• 8. Proverbs 7:11
• 9. S Proverbs 5:6
• 10. ver 3; Ezekiel 16:25
• 11. S Proverbs 1:20
• 12. S Proverbs 1:22
• 13. Proverbs 20:17
• 14. S Proverbs 2:18; Proverbs 7:26-27

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew "me"