Proverbs 9

¹Wisdom has built her house,[#: house has a symbolic meaning. Woman Wisdom encourages marital fidelity (2:16–19; 5; 6:20–35; 7), which builds up a household (cf. chap. 5). Some scholars propose that an actual seven-pillared house is referred to, but so far none have been unearthed by archaeologists. Seven may simply connote completeness—a great house.Some scholars see a connection between the woman’s house here and the woman’s house in the final poem (31:10–31). In chap. 9, she invites the young man to enter her house and feast, i.e., to marry her. Chapter 31 shows what happens to the man who marries her; he has a house and enjoys “life” understood as consisting of a suitable wife, children, wealth, and honor.]

she has set up her seven columns;

²She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine,

yes, she has spread her table.

³She has sent out her maidservants; she calls[#: i.e., invites; this is done indirectly through her maidservants, but the text could also mean that Wisdom herself publicly proclaims her invitation.]

from the heights out over the city:

⁴“Let whoever is naive turn in here;

to any who lack sense I say,

⁵Come, eat of my food,

and drink of the wine I have mixed!

⁶Forsake foolishness that you may live;[#: life in Proverbs is this-worldly, consisting in fearing God or doing one’s duty toward God, enjoying health and long life, possessing wealth, good reputation, and a family. Such a life cannot be attained without God’s help. Hence Wisdom speaks not of life simply but of life with her; the guest is to live in Wisdom’s house.]

advance in the way of understanding.”

⁷Whoever corrects the arrogant earns insults;

and whoever reproves the wicked incurs opprobrium.

⁸Do not reprove the arrogant, lest they hate you;

reprove the wise, and they will love you.

⁹Instruct the wise, and they become still wiser;

teach the just, and they advance in learning.

¹⁰The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord ,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied

and the years of your life increased.

¹²If you are wise, wisdom is to your advantage;

if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it.

¹³Woman Folly is raucous,[#Woman Folly is the mirror image of Woman Wisdom. Both make identical invitations but only one of the offers is trustworthy. Their hearers must discern which is the true offer. She is depicted with traits of the adulterous woman in 2:16–19; chap. 5; 6:20–35; chap. 7. Woman Folly is restless (cf. 7:11), her path leads to the underworld (2:18; 5:5; 7:27), and she is ignorant (5:6). In this final scene, she appears in single combat with her great nemesis, Woman Wisdom. Though the invitations of the two women appear at first hearing to be the same, they differ profoundly. Wisdom demands that her guests reject their ignorance, whereas Woman Folly trades on their ignorance.; #Prv 7:7–27.]

utterly foolish; she knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house

upon a seat on the city heights,

¹⁵Calling to passersby

as they go on their way straight ahead:

¹⁶“Let those who are naive turn in here,

to those who lack sense I say,

¹⁷Stolen water is sweet,

and bread taken secretly is pleasing!”

¹⁸Little do they know that the shades are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol!