Proverbs 9:1-12

The Way of Wisdom

1 ¹Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her ²seven ³pillars.

2 She has ⁴slaughtered her beasts; she has ⁵mixed her wine; she has also ⁶set her table.

3 She has ⁷sent out her young women to ⁸call from ⁹the highest places in the town,

4 ¹⁰"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" ¹¹To him who lacks sense she says,

5 "Come, ¹²eat of my bread and ¹³drink of ¹⁴the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave ¹⁵your simple ways,^[a] and ¹⁶live, ¹⁷and walk in the way of insight."

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

8 ¹⁸Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; ¹⁹reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction^[b] to a wise man, and he will be ²⁰still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will ²¹increase in learning.

10 ²²The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and ²³the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

11 For by me ²⁴your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

12 ²⁵If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Proverbs 9:1-12 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. [Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:5]; See Ephesians 2:20-22
• 2. [Revelation 1:4]
• 3. [1 Timothy 3:15]
• 4. [Matthew 22:4]
• 5. Proverbs 23:30; Song of Songs 8:2
• 6. Psalms 23:5; [Luke 14:17]
• 7. [Psalms 68:11; Matthew 22:3; Matthew 23:34]
• 8. Proverbs 8:1, 2
• 9. ver. 14; Proverbs 8:2; [Matthew 10:27]
• 10. ver. 16; [Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:26]
• 11. Proverbs 6:32
• 12. [Song of Songs 5:1; Isaiah 55:1; John 6:27]
• 13. [John 7:37]
• 14. [See ver. 2 above]
• 15. See Proverbs 1:4
• 16. [ver. 11]
• 17. [Proverbs 23:19]
• 18. [Matthew 7:6]
• 19. See Psalms 141:5
• 20. [Matthew 13:12]
• 21. Proverbs 1:5
• 22. See Proverbs 1:7
• 23. Proverbs 30:3
• 24. [Proverbs 10:27]; See Proverbs 3:2
• 25. [Job 22:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:5]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Leave the company of the simple
• [b]. Hebrew lacks instruction