Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Proverbs Chapter 9 mean?

Chapter 9 further highlights the distinction between godly wisdom and worldly foolishness. This returns to prior depictions of wisdom as a woman calling to be heard (Proverbs 8:1–4), and a seductive, sinful woman seeking gullible people as her prey (Proverbs 7:7–27). The chapter can be divided into three sections, each with six verses. The first continues to depict Lady Wisdom, the second contrasts the responses mankind has to wisdom, and the last section presents Folly as an inverted version of Wisdom herself.

After depicting Wisdom in detail in chapter 8, Solomon describes her as preparing a large home and a grand feast. The invitation Wisdom offers is for those who lack sense to improve, by obeying God and seeking truth. Those who accept Wisdom’s invitation put themselves on a path to life and success. As with other proverbs, this is an expression of common sense, not an overly literal guarantee. Those who pursue truth and godliness are more likely to thrive and less likely to suffer consequences (Proverbs 9:1–6).

The middle portion of the chapter notes the different reactions mankind has to godly wisdom. Those who sincerely seek truth respond to correction with humility and love. They apply the lessons of wisdom to make themselves wiser. In contrast, those who are arrogant will sneer at godliness, and react with hatred and insults to those who correct them. This passage repeats the fundamental idea that true wisdom can only begin when a person properly respects and reveres God (Proverbs 9:7–12).

The chapter ends by describing a twisted mirror image of Wisdom. This woman, Folly, also invites others to join her. Rather than encouraging godliness, Folly lies and says that illicit pleasures are better than God’s creations. Those who fall for her seduction fail to see that her path leads to death (Proverbs 9:13–18).

This concludes Solomon’s overall praise of wisdom, begun in the later verses of chapter 1. After this, the book of Proverbs records many of the individual statements of wisdom made by Solomon. Each of these is a proverb in and of itself. Most of the rest of the book of Proverbs is a collection of these discrete, common sense generalities.

Chapter Context
In chapter 7, Solomon portrayed an evil woman (Proverbs 7:7–27). In chapter 8 he portrays wisdom as a refined lady who offers instruction to all who heed her call. Chapter 9 contrasts Lady Wisdom with the evil Woman Folly, who lures the foolish to their ruin. This extended warning about the dangers of rejecting God’s wisdom leads into an extended collection of standalone proverbial comments, beginning in chapter 10.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Wisdom has built her house;she has hewn her seven pillars.

Chapter 8 depicted wisdom as a woman, calling out to anyone who would listen (Proverbs 8:1–4). Here, the imagery continues. Wisdom is imagined as a wealthy, generous woman who has built a fine home. The main implication here is of success, and an attractive situation.

The house built by wisdom has seven pillars. Bible scholars are uncertain if there is meant to be some deeper meaning for these seven pillars, other than that the house is very large. Some commentators think the pillars represent the seven days of creation; this would demonstrate that God is all-wise. God created everything in six days, and on the seventh day He rested, observing that everything He created was good. Others suggest the seven pillars represent the sun, moon, and five planets that people in early history knew existed.

The simpler and more applicable meaning is that Wisdom’s house is large and spacious enough to accommodate all who wish to live there. No one is shut out from the invitation to come and mingle with godly wisdom (Proverbs 9:2–6).

In chapter 7, an adulterous woman was described extending an illicit invitation to her home (Proverbs 7:18–21). Later in chapter 9, a twisted reflection of wisdom—referred to as Folly—will make similar claims in an effort to snare victims (Proverbs 9:13–18).

Context Summary
Proverbs 9:1–6 continues from chapter 8 by depicting wisdom as a woman. Here, she is a refined lady who has built a grand house and prepared a lavish feast. She calls out everywhere for those who are simple and lack judgment to participate as guests at her feast. This passage begins the chapter on a positive note, but a negative tone quickly follows. Foolishness, also depicted as a woman, will make similar invitations to those who lack sense.

Verse 2. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;she has also set her table.

The symbolic version of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1–4), is a woman with a grand home (Proverbs 9:1). This verse indicates that she is indeed wealthy and prepared for visitors. The process of butchering and preparing animals was not something done without planning. Likewise, the imagery of mixing wine and setting a table imply hospitality. Wisdom intends to invite others and treat those guests well (Proverbs 9:3–5).

The mixing of wine, customarily, meant diluting it with water to make it more palatable. The Jews considered undiluted wine distasteful. Scholars believe the wine Jesus and His disciples drank at the Passover Feast was three parts water and one part wine. Another view of the mixing believes spices were added to the wine to make it more flavorful. Perhaps the mixing of the wine included both the addition of water and spices.

God has set a plentiful table for all who will accept His invitation to dine.

Verse 3. She has sent out her young women to callfrom the highest places in the town,

In Proverbs 7:6–15 an adulterous woman leaves her house to search for a young man who is simple and lacking sense. She seeks to lure him for an immoral purpose. By contrast, Proverbs 9:3 portrays Wisdom sending her servant girls to issue her invitation to dine. They call from the highest places in town, where they will easily be seen and heard. This is in keeping with earlier depictions of Wisdom calling out, in public, to anyone who would listen (Proverbs 8:1–4).

The use of feasts and banquets, meant to attract guests, is common in Scripture. Jesus related the story of a king who prepared a lavish feast in honor of his son. The king sent forth his servants to call the invitees to the feast, but they rejected the call. Therefore, he ordered his servants to go to the main roads and gather for the feast all whom they found, both good and bad people (Matthew 22:1–10). Jesus has been sending believers into all the world to preach the gospel from the time He commissioned His disciples to do so (Matthew 28:18–20). Like the messengers of this verse, believers extend an invitation for others to come and know the One who is the Truth (John 14:6).

Verse 4. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”To him who lacks sense she says,

Wisdom, in the symbolic form of a wealthy woman (Proverbs 9:1–3), invites the gullible and senseless to come into her home (Proverbs 8:1–4). Scripture does not assume that people must be wise and discerning before they come to God. In fact, the Bible notes that true wisdom starts with submission to God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Those who seek God can improve their knowledge and ability to live according to truth (Proverbs 8:5).

Before trusting in Jesus as Savior, many whom Jesus invited were gullible and lacked good sense. Broadly speaking, those who do not know Christ are more susceptible to the Devil and his lies (1 Corinthians 2:14). The apostle Paul recalls that sad situation in his letter to the Ephesians. He writes, “you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1–2).

Writing to the Corinthians, Paul likewise stated, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).

Verse 5. “Come, eat of my breadand drink of the wine I have mixed.

Earlier passages depicted Wisdom as a woman calling out for others to hear her words (Proverbs 8:1–4). In this chapter, she is imaged as a wealthy, generous host who has made extensive preparations (Proverbs 9:1–3). That includes Wisdom sending out an invitation to those who are senseless and gullible (Proverbs 9:4). Her motive for this is their own benefit: by honoring godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10), they can avoid ignorance and hardship (Proverbs 9:6).

This provides a stark contrast to Wisdom’s mirror image, Folly, who will also invite foolish people. But Folly calls out in search of victims she can destroy (Proverbs 9:13–18).

As the source of all wisdom (Proverbs 8:22), God summons, “Come everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price… Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Isaiah 55:1–2). When Jesus converted water to wine at the wedding in Cana, the master of the wedding feast remarked to the bridegroom: “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2:10). And when Jesus fed thousands, they were all satisfied (Matthew 14:20). Similarly, Jesus supplies spiritual food that is both good and satisfying (John 6:27).

Verse 6. Leave your simple ways, and live,and walk in the way of insight.”

The personification of Wisdom as a wealthy, generous, benevolent woman (Proverbs 9:1–5) calls those who are simple and lacking good judgment to leave ignorance behind. Instead, they can take what she offers, resulting in life. Scripture makes it clear that true wisdom does not begin with intelligence or education; it starts with respect for God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Those who seek God’s truth can grow in godly wisdom, even if they were lacking sense beforehand (Proverbs 8:5). In a very similar way, basic spiritual insight requires a proper relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:14).

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul contrasts the condition of believers to the state they were in when God called them: “not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:26–30).

On a similar note, Paul tells the Ephesian believers: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4–5, 10). Because of the great transformation the Lord has made in our lives, we can “walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time (Colossians 4:5).

Verse 7. Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

Solomon begins to note the differences between those who sincerely seek truth and those who will only listen to what they want to hear. The “scoffer” depicted here is unteachable, defined by a Hebrew word meaning “mocker, inflated, scorner.” These are the people who hate any attempt to change their mind, preferring to continue along their current path. They respond to other views with arrogance and ridicule. This is the same person as the “wicked” man, coming from a different Hebrew word, who lashes out violently at the person who tries to tell him the truth. This lashing out includes slander: the term translated “injury” implies stains or slander. Well-meaning people have often suffered backlash from those who respond to criticism with hateful anger (Proverbs 9:8).

This unhappy response to truth happened to Jesus. When Christ came to earth, He came to His own people, the Jews, but they rejected Him (John 1:11). Often, Jesus offered the kingdom to Israel, but the nation spurned His offer.

This rejection also happened to men like Paul. At a synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia, Paul reviewed Israel’s history and spoke of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Acts 13:13–30). He identified himself and his coworkers as witnesses to the Jews and identified the good news of salvation as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel (Acts 13:31–41). At the request of the people, Paul spoke again the following Sabbath, but hardhearted Jews reviled Paul (Acts 13:42–45). In turn, Paul and his companion Barnabas said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).

Context Summary
Proverbs 9:7–12 bridges the other two sections of this chapter. The first depicts Wisdom as a generous, benevolent woman calling on others to respond to her invitation and live (Proverbs 9:1–6). The last segment portrays Wisdom’s mirror image, Folly, who entices others with lies and deception, leading to their death. In this section of Proverbs 9, Solomon describes what is at stake in the decision between these two proverbial women. This also notes the inherent difference between those who sincerely seek wisdom, versus those who can only stand to be told what they want to hear.

Verse 8. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs depicts wisdom as a woman calling out to anyone who will hear (Proverbs 8:1–4). In this chapter, that imagery includes Wisdom building a house and preparing a feast (Proverbs 9:1–6). Of course, not all people want to receive wisdom. Some, so committed to their own desires, will hatefully attack anyone who questions them (Proverbs 9:7). To “reprove” is to apply correction, conviction, reason, or pleading to another person. People inclined to mock or dismiss what they don’t want to hear respond to correction with hatred. In contrast, a person with a wise attitude will appreciate the correction.

Jesus, the epitome of wisdom, called for repentance from sin. Those who wisely turn from their sin and believe in Jesus no longer love their sin but love Jesus. Peter, for example, admitted in the presence of Jesus that he was a sinful man, but when he became a believer and followed Jesus, he loved Jesus. His love was not always perfect, but he confessed that he loved Jesus (John 21:15–17). Later, he proved his love for Jesus by bravely proclaiming Him as Lord and Savior to a crowd of Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2:14–41) and by suffering for His sake (Acts 5:27–42; 12:1–5).

Verse 9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Solomon affirms that a person who sincerely seeks truth—the “wise” man—cooperates with correction and will become even wiser. Furthermore, those who seek to be godly, or righteous, will respond positively to your knowledge. They will improve their own wisdom by considering yours. This is in direct contrast to the arrogance of those who hate being corrected, who respond to wisdom with venom and evil (Proverbs 9:7–8).

The Christian life is not static; it is dynamic, A believer will never reach a point where they have no need for additional wisdom or further learning. The Bible challenges believers to build on their faith and to grow their knowledge of the Lord. In 2 Peter 1:5–7 the apostle Peter admonishes: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” He concludes 2 Peter by writing: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Even the apostle Paul, among the most wise and experienced of Christians, writes: “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).

Verse 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

The dividing line between those who are “wise” or “righteous” in their approach to wisdom (Proverbs 9:8–9) and those who are foolish and wicked is in this fundamental principle. This is a statement made often in Proverbs and echoed elsewhere in the Bible (Proverbs 1:7; 15:33; Psalm 111:10; Job 28:28). The word translated “beginning” here is from the root tachillah, which implies a foundation or an origin. In this context, Solomon means it is a prerequisite for wisdom. Without a humble, sincere reverence for who God is, a person will be arrogant and instinctively lash out when they are corrected (Proverbs 9:7).

No one can be truly wise unless he fears the Lord. The term “fear of the Lord,” occurs more than a dozen times in the book of Proverbs. This is not “just” respect, but it does not imply terror or panic. The idea is one of humility, deep reverence, and submission. The basis for fearing God in this way is belief that He is holy and hates and punishes sin. Those who properly understand God’s role have a clear view of reality, leading to insight and better outcomes.

After the exodus from Egypt, God pronounced blessings upon Israel if the people faithfully obeyed Him, but He also pronounced curses upon them if they refused to obey Him. He warns, “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting” (Deuteronomy 28:58–59). The same passage continues to warn that a lack of fear of the Lord will diminish Israel’s population and bring ruin on the nation, removal from the Promised Land, dispersion, fear, and persecution.

Verse 11. For by me your days will be multiplied,and years will be added to your life.

Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1–4; 9:1–6) extends one’s life. This is not presented as an absolute promise of safety or health for all people, in all times. The context is much the same as a doctor who tells a patient, “eat healthy food and you will live longer.” Compared to a life lived in sin and ignorance, the person who lives by godly wisdom has a better likelihood of experiencing blessing and avoiding negative consequences.

A life of obedience to God’s instructions is a good life. It is marked by peace, joy, significance, and fellowship with the Lord. The person who chooses wisdom sets themselves on a path much more likely to involve both quantity of years and quality of life.

Nothing else can compare to the life granted by godly wisdom. Solomon himself went through a period of looking for the meaning to life. He sought for it in such things as self-indulgence, possessions, fame, and work, but concluded: “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God” (Ecclesiastes 8:12–13). Solomon ends Ecclesiastes by counseling his readers: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Generally speaking, the earlier a person gains wisdom by fearing the Lord, the better and longer his life will be.

Verse 12. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

This verse summarizes the idea that the choice between wisdom and foolishness—between godly truth and selfish arrogance—has direct consequences for a person’s own life. Choosing wisdom is “for yourself,” in the sense of being positive or uplifting. Likewise, the choice to be foolish ultimately results in consequences that other people cannot remove. Those who “scoff” respond to wisdom and correction with sneers and hatred (Proverbs 9:7–8). Those who accept godly correction improve their own lives (Proverbs 9:9).

In one of Jesus’ parables, an unwise wealthy farmer boasted, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry” (Luke 12:19). However, God answered him with this rebuke, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12:20). As far as eternity is concerned, a bulging bank account is worthless. It’s been said that a moving van never follows a hearse—you cannot take those earthly goods with you into eternity. What matters is a person’s faith in the all-wise Savior. The wise believer stores up treasure in heaven and receives rewards for faithful service (1 Corinthians 3:10–14).

Verse 13. The woman Folly is loud;she is seductive and knows nothing.

Solomon has depicted wisdom as a woman calling for an audience (Proverbs 8:1–4) and a noble lady inviting others to be her guest (Proverbs 9:1–6). The last verses of this chapter present an inversion of this idea: an adulterous woman who is loud, seductive, and ignorant. The character of this mirror image, referred to as Folly, is an extension of the predatory woman depicted earlier in Proverbs (Proverbs 7:7–27).

Folly stands in stark contrast to Lady Wisdom, who offers insight, life, increased learning, and longevity. The woman Folly is attractive, but coarse and naïve. She and her clients fit the same description. Those who fall for her tricks are captivated by loud talk and superficial beauty. They are drawn into her house like a fly being drawn into a Venus Flytrap.

This imagery plays on the unfortunate habit of males to be swayed by the beauty and seduction of a woman. History records Samson’s fall from a position of strength when he became enthralled with Delilah’s appealing looks and persuasive speech. King David fell into sin when he “saw from the roof a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful” (2 Samuel 11:2). Snared by his lust, “David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her” (2 Samuel 11:4). The basic concept, however, applies to both sexes. Proverbs 31:30 insists, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Context Summary
Proverbs 9:13–18 closes the chapter by describing Folly’s call and the tragedy of succumbing to it. Solomon began this chapter of Proverbs with a call from a proverbial Lady Wisdom, for others to feast at her table. Between the two sections of this chapter, he presented two different responses to the call. A wise person responds positively, but a scoffer rejects the call. The depiction of Folly mirrors that of wisdom: making similar invitations, but with drastically different results. This parallels the evil temptations of the adulterous woman described earlier (Proverbs 7:7–27).

Verse 14. She sits at the door of her house;she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

The symbol of foolishness, imagined as a woman, Folly, is meant to be a mirror image of godly Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1–6). She sits at the door of her house waiting for some foolish man she can lure into ruin and destruction. While Wisdom’s house was depicted as a noble estate, hosting a feast, the home of Folly is more likely to be something like a brothel (Proverbs 7:7–27). This is the kind of place that any man with common sense should know is dangerous.

However, Folly is not content to simply wait for a client. She aggressively searches for one. She goes through the town and sits like a queen on the town’s highest places, where she can be easily seen and heard. It is not hard to find evil today; it displays itself prominently on TV, on the Internet, in our streets, in our back alleys and parks, in our schools, and even in our halls of government. Evil lures far too many people into illicit sex, drugs, smoking, crime, and excessive drinking. Scandal overtakes more than a few notable politicians and many celebrities. The embodiment of godless ignorance, Folly, is as active today as she was in the time of Solomon.

Verse 15. calling to those who pass by,who are going straight on their way,

Godly Wisdom, imagined as a woman, was also depicted as calling out to others (Proverbs 8:1–4). In this chapter, Wisdom appeared as a noble woman extending an invitation to a feast (Proverbs 9:1–6). The inversion of Wisdom, known as Folly (Proverbs 9:13–14), also makes an effort to attract others into her influence.

Folly beckons to those who go about their daily business and pass by. Obviously, she hopes to catch some of them in her net. Perhaps the reference to those “who are going straight on their way” identifies young men of character. The Devil seeks to destroy even strong believers. He prowls like a lion in search of someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We need to be sober-minded and watchful, while we resist him in the faith and submit ourselves to God (1 Peter 5:9).

Like well-disciplined runners, believers ought to avoid the distractions evil places in their path and run with endurance with their eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1–2). Lot is a prime example of a believer who looked toward Sodom, the evil city, and chose to camp nearby. However, eventually he moved into the city, settled down there, and ultimately lost everything, including his wife (Genesis 13:1–13; 19:1–26). It is wise to follow a straight godly path and abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Verse 16. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”And to him who lacks sense she says,

Folly (Proverbs 9:13–15), the opposite of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1–6), uses similar tactics and calls to many of the same people. Here she is seen attempting to influence those who are gullible and lack sense. However, while Wisdom encourages people to seek life and success (Proverbs 9:10–12), Folly looks to trap people in a vastly different destiny. Lady Wisdom calls the simple and those lacking sense to receive wisdom, learning, and abundant life. Woman Folly calls her audience to engage in sin.

Wisdom wants to build up her audience; Folly wants to bring down hers. Of course, Folly pretends to give her audience pleasure, but she is deceptive. Only trouble awaits those that heed her call. In his attempt to lure men and women into false teaching and sin, Satan uses false apostles who are deceitful workmen. They disguise themselves as the apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13), and “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Jesus warned: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

Verse 17. “Stolen water is sweet,and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Solomon is contrasting the life-giving invitation of Wisdom, personified as a woman (Proverbs 9:1–6), with the death-bringing seduction of Folly, also imagined as an inviting woman (Proverbs 9:13–16). Earlier passages in Proverbs made comparisons between adultery and foreign water (Proverbs 5:15–18), and depicted a predatory woman seducing foolish men (Proverbs 7:7–27). This verse points out that sin tempts people by claiming that God is withholding good things from us, so we should defy His commands and enjoy what we want (Genesis 3:1–6). The imagery of “stolen water” and “bread eaten in secret” is meant to evoke the idea of something forbidden or taken through illicit means.

However, what Folly offers is far inferior to what Wisdom promises. Wisdom’s invitation included mixed wine and prepared meat (Proverbs 9:2). Somehow, human nature prefers what God has placed off limits to the things He has approved. In the garden of Eden, God told our first parents, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” (Genesis 2:16–17). Our first parents were not content to limit themselves to God’s generous provision; they ate what was forbidden (Genesis 3:6).

The adulterer believes illicit sex is more satisfying than sex between a husband and wife, which God has sanctioned (Genesis 1:28). He also believes his sin will remain secret; however it is not hidden from God’s pervasive gaze (Hebrews 4:13). And the ultimate result of sin is not happiness, but death (Proverbs 9:18; Romans 6:23).

Verse 18. But he does not know that the dead are there,that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Wisdom, depicted as a noble woman inviting people to a feast, offers life and safety to those who listen to her (Proverbs 9:1–6, 10–12). Her mirror image, Folly, lies to disguise the fact that her invitation (Proverbs 9:13–17) leads to death. The repeated lesson of the book of Proverbs is that true wisdom begins with respect for God (Proverbs 1:7; 15:33; Psalm 111:10; Job 28:28). Those who ignore God are defying the very source of creation (Genesis 1:1) and are setting themselves on a path to absolute destruction (John 3:36). Foolishness has its attractions (Proverbs 7:7–27), but it’s not a viable alternative to truth.

This contrast was demonstrated in the very first instance of sin. Apparently, Eve did not believe God’s pronouncement that eating the forbidden fruit would incur death, although God had said plainly, “In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). She chose to believe Satan’s lie: “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). She learned the hard way that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Since the days of Adam and Eve sinners have been under the sentence of death (Romans 5:12; 6:23), and will experience eternal death in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1–15) unless they turn from sin to trust in Jesus as their Savior. John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

End of Proverbs 9

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