The Proverbs

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

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- Chapter 9 -

Wisdom and unreason. Appeal to wisdom

(Proverbs 1:1-7)

Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.

She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.(a)

She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,

“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:

“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.

Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”

Exhortation to wisdom

Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.

Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you.

Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.

For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.

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

A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,

sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,

so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:

“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,(b)

“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”

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)