Proverbs
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Proverbs 9
Proverbs 9
1Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table: 3She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:
1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Commentary · verses 1-3
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, 5Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Commentary · verses 4-6
"Leave off, ye simple ones" meant to forsake the foolish. We ought to leave behind foolishness and progress in and towards understanding.
Doctrines on this passage
7He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Commentary · verses 7-8
A wise man loved being confronted. This man would understand the value of being shown why he was wrong. When you are shown why you are wrong you have the opportunity to become more right. Remember, every time David was confronted with his sin, he chose to humble himself and grow.
Doctrines on this passage
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Commentary · verse 9
Here we see that the wise became more wise when they were instructed/corrected. Also, teaching the righteous led to them becoming more righteous. The key words here were "instruction" and "teach":
- "Instruction" was being shown HOW/WHY you were wrong.
- Being taught meant you were given understanding.
10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Commentary · verse 10
Before you could receive wisdom from God, you must fear (revere) Him. The first cause was to see God as greater than yourself, which was humility of yourself and worship of God.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Commentary · verses 11-12
We are accountable for our own actions and will be judged according to them, both good and bad.
13The foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city, 15To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways: 16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, 17Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Commentary · verses 13-18
More examples of a woman attempting to take a man without understanding off course. Are you convinced of the importance of wisdom and understanding yet?
Commentary · verse 18
Proverbs 7-9 covered proverbs that presented wisdom as an excellent woman and contrasted that with deception as being a strange woman/harlot. The reader's response to correction determined whether he had understanding or not.
Doctrines on this passage
In the previous chapter, we saw that wisdom was with God before, during, and after the Creation. Here, wisdom was represented as the ruler of what she had built.