Proverbs 9

Wisdom's Invitation

1 Wisdom has ¹built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

2 She has ²prepared her food, she has ³mixed her wine; She has also ⁴set her table;

3 She has ⁵sent out her maidens, she ⁶calls From the ⁷tops of the heights of the city:

4 "⁸Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!" To him who ⁹lacks understanding she says,

5 "Come, ¹⁰eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 "Forsake your folly and ¹¹live, And ¹²proceed in the way of understanding."

7 He who ¹³corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

8 ¹⁴Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, ¹⁵Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will ¹⁶increase his learning.

10 The ¹⁷fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For ¹⁸by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

12 If you are wise, you are wise ¹⁹for yourself, And if you ²⁰scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The woman of folly is ²¹boisterous, She is naive and ²²knows nothing *.

14 She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by ²³the high places of the city,

15 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:

16 "²⁴Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," And to him who lacks understanding she says,

17 "Stolen water is sweet; And ²⁵bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the ²⁶depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The invitations of Wisdom. (1-12) The invitations of folly. (13-18)

Verses 1-12 Christ has prepared ordinances to which his people are admitted, and by which nourishment is given here to those that believe in him, as well as mansions in heaven hereafter. The ministers of the gospel go forth to invite the guests. The call is general, and shuts out none that do not shut out themselves. Our Saviour came, not to call the righteous, but sinners; not the wise in their own eyes, who say they see. We must keep from the company and foolish pleasures of the ungodly, or we never can enjoy the pleasures of a holy life. It is vain to seek the company of wicked men in the hope of doing them good; we are far more likely to be corrupted by them. It is not enough to forsake the foolish, we must join those that walk in wisdom. There is no true wisdom but in the way of religion, no true life but in the end of that way. Here is the happiness of those that embrace it. A man cannot be profitable to God; it is for our own good. Observe the shame and ruin of those who slight it. God is not the Author of sin: and Satan can only tempt, he cannot force. Thou shalt bear the loss of that which thou scornest: it will add to thy condemnation.

Verses 13-18 How diligent the tempter is, to seduce unwary souls into sin! Carnal, sensual pleasure, stupifies conscience, and puts out the sparks of conviction. This tempter has no solid reason to offer; and where she gets dominion in a soul, all knowledge of holy things is lost and forgotten. She is very violent and pressing. We need to seek and pray for true wisdom, for Satan has many ways to withdraw our souls from Christ. Not only worldly lusts and abandoned seducers prove fatal to the souls of men; but false teachers, with doctrines that flatter pride and give liberty to lusts, destroy thousands. They especially draw off such as have received only partial serious impressions. The depths of Satan are depths of hell; and sin, without remorse, is ruin, ruin without remedy. Solomon shows the hook; those that believe him, will not meddle with the bait. Behold the wretched, empty, unsatisfying, deceitful, and stolen pleasure sin proposes; and may our souls be so desirous of the everlasting enjoyment of Christ, that on earth we may live to him, daily, by faith, and ere long be with him in glory.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Corinthians 3:9, 10; Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:5
• 2. Matthew 22:4
• 3. Song of Songs 8:2
• 4. Luke 14:16, 17
• 5. Psalms 68:11; Matthew 22:3
• 6. Proverbs 8:1, 2
• 7. Proverbs 9:14
• 8. Proverbs 8:5; Proverbs 9:16
• 9. Proverbs 6:32
• 10. Song of Songs 5:1; Isaiah 55:1; John 6:27
• 11. Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 9:11
• 12. Ezekiel 11:20; Ezekiel 37:24
• 13. Proverbs 23:9
• 14. Proverbs 15:12; Matthew 7:6
• 15. Psalms 141:5; Proverbs 10:8
• 16. Proverbs 1:5
• 17. Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7
• 18. Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 10:27
• 19. Job 22:2; Proverbs 14:14
• 20. Proverbs 19:29
• 21. Proverbs 7:11
• 22. Proverbs 5:6
• 23. Proverbs 9:3
• 24. Proverbs 9:4
• 25. Proverbs 20:17
• 26. Proverbs 7:27

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "slaughtered her slaughter"
• [b]. Lit "simple"
• [c]. Lit "heart"
• [d]. Or "Forsake the simple ones"
• [e]. Lit "a blemish"
• [f]. Or "foolish woman"
• [g]. Lit "simple"
• [h]. Lit "simple"
• [i]. Lit "heart"
• [j]. Lit "departed spirits"

Chapter Summary

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.