THE
PROVERBS
Proverbs 9 ©
Here the work of grace, wrought by our Lord Christ, Who calls and brings His people by His Word and Spirit unto His blessed communion and fellowship (the Supreme Wisdom), is propounded under the parable and similitude of making a feast, and inviting of guests, verse 1. With an opposition of the nature and condition of the scorners, and of the wise, 7. And on the contrary the deceitful and destructive work of Satan under the parable of a foolish woman (enemy to Supreme Wisdom), who also invites her guests, but to their everlasting destruction, 13, etc.
WISDOM1 hath builded her 2house, she hath hewn out her 3seven 4pillars:
5She hath 6killed her 7beasts; she hath 8mingled her wine; she hath also 9furnished her table.
She hath sent forth 10her maidens: she crieth upon the highest 11placesa of the city,
Whoso is 12simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that 13wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
14Come, eat of my 15bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Forsake the 16foolish, and 17live; and go in the 18way of understanding.
He that 19reproveth a 20scorner 21getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a 22blot.
Reproveb not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a 23wise man, and he will love thee.
24Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in 25learning.
Thec fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and 26the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
27For by me thy daysd shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life 28shall be increased.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise 29for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou 30alone shalt bear it.
¶A 31foolish womaneis 32clamorous: 33she is simple, and 34knoweth nothing.
For 35she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
To call passengers 36who go right on their ways:
Whoso is 37simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
38Stolenf waters are sweet, and bread eaten in 39secret is pleasant.
40But 41he knoweth not that the 42dead are 43there;gand that her guests are in the depths 44of hell.