1The discipline 3and doctrine of wisdom. 13The sinful enticements of folly; 18their ruinous tendency.
1WISDOM1 hath builded her 2house, she hath hewn out her 3seven 4pillars:
1 Hebr. wisdoms. See Prov. 1:20.
2 Understand by this house, the congregation of true believers, whose building is begun here by the preaching of the Gospel, and the working of the Holy Ghost, but shall be finished hereafter by the perfecting and consummation of the children of God. Others understand by this house, the third or highest heaven, wherein the elect shall be abundantly filled and satisfied with all manner of good things.
3 That is, many. A certain number for an uncertain. See Prov. 6:31.
4 By these are understood by many, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Others understand by these pillars, the stability, and the everlasting duration and continuance of the heavenly house of the Father, into which Christ is gone before us to prepare a place for us, John 14:2.
25She hath 6killed her 7beasts; she hath 8mingled her wine; she hath also 9furnished her table.
5 Here Wisdom is compared with a king who keeps open court. Compare Mat. 22:2, 3, etc.
6 Namely, to dress, and then to set before the guests: so Gen. 43:16; 1 Sam. 25:11.
7 Meaning, the Word of God, the true food of the soul, together with all spiritual and soul-saving mercies, which are promised therein, and presented or offered unto us in the sacraments, upon which will follow the perfect joy of the life to come.
8 This looks at the custom then in use in hot countries, where they mingled their wine with water to mitigate and allay the strength thereof, or mingled it with several spices, verse 5; Prov. 23:30; Isa. 5:22; 65:11.
9 Namely, by setting the several messes or dishes upon it in due order. Compare the phrase with Psalm 23:5; 78:19; Isa. 21:5.
3She hath sent forth 10her maidens: she crieth upon the highest 11placesa of the city,
10 Understand by these the ministers of the Word of God, who are sent forth by Christ to invite men to the communion and fellowship of the church, and of all spiritual good things, that are therein distributed, 2 Cor. 5:19, 20.
11 Hebr. wings, that is, low walls, or leanings made above upon the flat roofs of high buildings, that those, who went upon the roof, might be out of danger of falling down. See Deut. 22 on verse 8, and compare Prov. 8:2.
a Prov. 8:2.
4Whoso is 12simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that 13wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
12 That is, whosoever is simple, let him turn in to Me. They are the words of Wisdom. See of the word simple the 10th annotation at Prov. 1 on verse 4.
13 See Prov. 6 on verse 32.
514Come, eat of my 15bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
14 Namely, whoever you are of the unwise.
15 Spiritual and eternal good things are often compared to physical and transitory good things, and therefore also represented and signified by them, Psalm 23:2, 5.
6Forsake the 16foolish, and 17live; and go in the 18way of understanding.
16 Or, simplicities. So is the Hebrew word taken in Prov. 1:22. Other, Let the simple ones go, or, Forsake the simple ones or foolish.
17 A command, containing in it a promise that they shall live. See Prov. 3 on verse 25.
18 That is, in the way, whereby men attain to right understanding and true wisdom, and which men of understanding do walk in. See 1 Kings 8 on verse 36.
7He that 19reproveth a 20scorner 21getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a 22blot.
19 The word signifies here properly to instruct, admonish and reprove someone with words, and with sayings only. Also Deut. 4:36; 1 Chron. 15:22; Job 4:3. Elsewhere it signifies also to chastise and correct with blows and punishments, as 1 Kings 12:11; Psalm 6:1.
20 See Psalm 1:1.
21 Namely, because he does but labor in vain, and is reviled by him whom he reproves. Compare Mat. 7:6.
22 The word in the original signifies commonly a blemish on the body, as Lev. 21:17; 22:20; 2 Sam. 14:25, but it is also taken for a blemish on the soul, touching faith and manners, or a good name in respect of the outcome of a thing or action, as here, Deut. 32:5; Job 11:15.
8Reproveb not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a 23wise man, and he will love thee.
b Mat. 7:6.
23 That is, he, who loves wisdom, is godly and honest. Also in the next verse.
924Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in 25learning.
24 Hebr. give, namely, wholesome instruction.
25 Also Prov. 1:5. See the annotation.
10Thec fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and 26the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
c Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Prov. 1:7.
26 That is, the knowledge wherewith the saints are endowed, and which they show forth and represent unto others. Understand by the holy the true believers. They are also called such Psalm 16:3; 34:9; 89:5, 7; Prov. 30:3; Hosea 12:1; 1 Cor. 1:2. See the reason in 1 Cor. 6:11. Others understand hereby by the holy, the true God, Who may be called the Holy (in the plural number), because He is threefold in Persons.
1127For by me thy daysd shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life 28shall be increased.
27 See Prov. 3:2 and the annotations, and understand by me, the Supreme Wisdom, Who imports here reasons of Her previous exhortations.
d Prov. 10:27.
28 Hebr. shall they add unto thee, that is, shall be added, namely, by Him, Who adds or multiplies them, which is God. See of this phrase, Job 4 on verse 19.
12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise 29for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou 30alone shalt bear it.
29 That is, for your own benefit and advantage. God has no benefit or profit by it, Psalm 16:2.
30 That is, the shame and damage of it; not God, nor His eternal Wisdom.
13¶A 31foolish womaneis 32clamorous: 33she is simple, and 34knoweth nothing.
31 Hebr. woman of folly or foolishness. This woman is portrayed and set forth in this chapter as the most important adversary and enemy to true wisdom, inviting all men unto her as Wisdom did before. Understand by the foolish woman, whatsoever goes against the truth or soundness of doctrine and the integrity of life. Others perceive that here properly is described an adulteress, and that then by her the aforementioned foolish woman is represented.
e Prov. 7:11.
32 See Prov. 7 on verse 11.
33 That is, who is very simple, full of folly, and bad senses.
34 Namely, to instruct a man what he should believe and how he ought to live.
14For 35she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
35 Namely, the aforementioned, foolish woman; that is, folly, who is here described by her boldness, pride and manifold practices to seduce and deceive men.
15To call passengers 36who go right on their ways:
36 That is, who make their paths straight without looking back after the foolish woman. Compare Prov. 3:6.
16Whoso is 37simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
37 Compare these words with the words of Wisdom, verse 4, which folly here she desires to imitate, that by open reviling and contemning of Wisdom’s instruction, she might draw men unto herself.
1738Stolenf waters are sweet, and bread eaten in 39secret is pleasant.
38 Understand hereby, false doctrine, vain and empty riches and transitory pleasures, which folly imparts unto her ministers and servants. They are called stolen waters and secret bread, because they are compared to the secret carnal copulation of those, who live in adultery. For as this is practiced with much craft and secrecy, and also is far more pleasing and delightful to corrupt flesh than the pure and undefiled coming together in the state of holy wedlock, so in false doctrine, there is nothing but crafty deceit, and in fading and transitory riches, which folly promises, a greater delight for the flesh in this world. Compare Prov. 20:17; 30:20, and the annotations.
f Prov. 20:17.
39 That is, goods that are obtained and spent iniquitously; namely, obtained by secret, false and crafty practices, and spent and wasted by useless, shameful and immoderate actions, which are ashamed of the light. Bread is put for all manner of temporal goods. See Prov. 4 on verse 17.
1840But 41he knoweth not that the 42dead are 43there;gand that her guests are in the depths 44of hell.
40 The previous words were spoken by folly, but these are spoken by Solomon, to give warning unto men.
41 Namely, the man, who passes by, whom the foolish woman has invited.
42 See Prov. 2 on verse 18.
43 Namely, in the house of the foolish woman.
g Prov. 2:18.
44 Namely, of death temporal and eternal.