Lady Wisdom's Invitation
Study note
Wisdom has built a grand house with seven pillars, which represents a large, complete, and stable home. She has prepared a feast of meat and wine and sends out her servants to invite everyone in the city. Her invitation is to leave foolishness behind and walk in the way of understanding.
1 Wisdom has constructed her home and carved out seven strong pillars to hold it up. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She has cooked a magnificent meal, blended her finest wine, and set the table with everything in place. She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her servants to announce from the highest spot in the city: She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 "Anyone who needs wisdom, come on in!" And to those who lack good sense, she says: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 "Sit down and eat the food I prepared. Drink the wine I have mixed." Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 "Walk away from foolishness and start truly living! Step onto the road of understanding." Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
How the Wise and the Foolish Respond to Correction
Study note
Before presenting Folly's invitation, this section pauses to explain the difference between a mocker and a wise person. If you correct a mocker, they will hate you. If you correct a wise person, they will love you for it. Verse 10 restates the theme of the entire book: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Your response to correction reveals your true character.
7 Try to correct someone who mocks others and you will get insulted. Try to confront a wicked person and you will get hurt. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Do not bother correcting a mocker; they will only despise you for it. But correct a wise person and they will be grateful. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Share something with a wise person and they become even wiser. Teach a good person and they will soak up even more. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 Honoring the Lord is where all wisdom begins. Knowing the Holy One gives you real understanding. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 Through wisdom, your life will be long, and many extra years will be given to you. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 When you become wise, the person who benefits most is you. If you mock wisdom, you are the one who will pay the price. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Lady Folly's Invitation
Study note
In sharp contrast to Wisdom, Folly sits at her door doing nothing, calling out to people passing by with the same words Wisdom uses. But her offer is different: 'Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.' She appeals to the thrill of doing wrong. What her guests do not know is that her house is full of the dead. This powerful ending to chapters 1-9 forces the reader to choose between the two paths.
13 Folly is like a loud, reckless woman who does not know the first thing about anything. A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 She parks herself in a chair right outside her door, at the most visible spot in town, For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 calling out to everyone who walks by, people going about their business: To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 "Anyone who needs direction, come over here!" And to people without good sense she says: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 "Water that is stolen tastes extra refreshing, and bread you sneak is extra delicious!" Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 What this person does not know is grim. Her house is full of dead people. All who went in came to be in the grave. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.