#proverbs 9

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by… “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

The Way of Wisdom

1 Wisdom has built herself a house; she has carved her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her food, spiced her wine, and she has set her table. 3 She has sent out her young girls [with invitations]; she calls from the heights of the city, 4 “Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!” To someone weak-willed she says, 5 “Come and eat my food! Drink the wine I have mixed! 6 Don’t stay unsure of yourself, but live! Walk in the way of understanding!” 7 “He who corrects a scoffer only gets insulted; reproving a wicked man becomes his blemish. 8 If you reprove a scoffer, he will hate you; if you reprove a wise man, he will love you. 9 Give to a wise man, and he grows still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will learn still more. 10 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holy ones is understanding. 11 For with me, your days will be increased; years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom helps you; but if you scoff, you bear the consequences alone.”

1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.

2 She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table.

3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.

4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,

5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”

7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.

8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.

12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. Folly Calls for a Hearing

13 The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.

14 She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city.

15 She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business.

16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,

17 “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!”

Wisdom versus Foolishness

1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls out from the highest points of the city: 4 ‘Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ’ To the one who lacks sense, she says, 5 ‘Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave inexperience behind, and you will live; pursue the way of understanding. 7 The one who corrects a mocker will bring abuse on himself; the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. 8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you. 9 Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more.

10 ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.’

13 Folly is a rowdy woman; she is gullible and knows nothing. 14 She sits by the doorway of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling to those who pass by, who go straight ahead on their paths: 16 ‘Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ’ To the one who lacks sense, she says, 17 ‘Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty! ’ 18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. — Proverbs 9 | Christian Standard Bible Anglicised (CSBA) Christian Standard Bible Anglicised Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers. Cross References: Deuteronomy 11:21; Job 5:17; Job 22:2; Job 28:28; Psalm 68:11; Psalm 111:10; Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 5:6; Proverbs 5:8; Proverbs 5:16; Proverbs 5:18; Proverbs 6:32; Proverbs 7:11-12; Proverbs 7:26-27; Proverbs 8:2; Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 23:19; Song of Solomon 5:1; Matthew 7:6; Matthew 22:3-4; Luke 14:16-17; John 6:27; 1 Corinthians 3:9-10; Galatians 6:5; Ephesians 2:20

Proverbs 9: The Way of Wisdom or the Path of Death – Choose Your Way Carefully

Proverbs 9 gives us a powerful picture of two voices calling out to us — Wisdom and Folly. Each offers a path, but only one leads to life. This chapter reminds us that the decisions we make every day shape our destiny. Wisdom leads to understanding and peace, while foolishness ends in regret and destruction.

Wisdom is like a noble woman who prepares a feast and invites everyone to come and learn. She calls out from the highest places, offering truth, strength, and life. Her words remind us that true wisdom begins with respect and reverence for God. When we follow her path, we find peace, clarity, and lasting joy.

Folly, on the other hand, is loud and deceptive. She calls out too, pretending to offer pleasure and excitement, but her ways are empty. Her sweet words hide danger, leading those who follow her toward spiritual death.

20241109 Photo by murat esibatir on Pexels.com choose the wise life Proverbs 9:1-18 (JDV). Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.Proverbs 9:2 She has slaughtered what needed to be slaughtered; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.Proverbs 9:3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls out from the highest points of the city:Proverbs…

Open with me to the book of Proverbs, chapter nine. Picture a bright eyed, young man walking down a road. He comes upon two houses on either side. Out of each walks a woman. One woman is beautiful and dignified. Her name is “Wisdom” (Prov 9:1ff). The other woman is seductive and loud. Her name is “Folly” (Prov 9:13ff). Inside the house of Wisdom there is a rich feast, insight to be gained, and,…