Proverbs 9:11-18

11 Wisdom will add years to your life.

12 You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom, and if you reject it, you are the one who will suffer.

13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant, shameless woman.

14 She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the highest part of town,

15 and calls out to people passing by, who are minding their own business:

16 "Come in, ignorant people!" To the foolish she says,

17 "Stolen water is sweeter. Stolen bread tastes better."

18 Her victims do not know that the people die who go to her house, that those who have already entered are now deep in the world of the dead.

Proverbs 9:11-18 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Verse 13 in Hebrew is unclear.]