Proverbs 9:3-13

3 She has sent out her servant girls, and she calls out from the highest place in the city.

4 She says to those who are uneducated, "Come in here, you foolish people!

5 Come and eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared.

6 Stop your foolish ways, and you will live; take the road of understanding.

7 "If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted. If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.

8 Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.

9 Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser; teach good people, and they will learn even more.

10 "Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.

11 If you live wisely, you will live a long time; wisdom will add years to your life.

12 The wise person is rewarded by wisdom, but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it."

13 Foolishness is like a loud woman; she does not have wisdom or knowledge.

Proverbs 9:3-13 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.