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The Proverbs

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- Chapter 9 -

Wisdom and unreason. Appeal to wisdom

(Proverbs 1:1-7)
1
Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
2
She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.(a)
3
She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
4
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
6
Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”

Exhortation to wisdom

7
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
8
Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you.
9
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
11
For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
12
If you would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.

Calling of the reckless woman

13
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
15
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,(b)
17
“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
18
And he did not know that giants are there, and that her companions are in the depths of Hell.

Footnotes

(a)9:2 Wine was mixed with water for drinking in ancient times. This purified the water and prevented those who drank from becoming too inebriated. The mixing of wine with water also has symbolic meaning.(Conte)
(b)9:16 Notice that the foolish woman imitates wisdom personified (both represented as feminine). They both call out to whoever is little, but the call from the foolish woman is false.(Conte)

Wisdom and unreason. Appeal to wisdom

(Proverbs 1:1-7)
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 maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5
“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6
Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

Exhortation to wisdom

7
One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11
For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

Calling of the reckless woman

13
The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15
to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
16
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18
But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(a)

Footnotes

(a)9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.
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