An Urgent Call to Spiritual Drifters – Proverbs 9:1-18
9 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. (2) She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has set her table. (3) She has sent out her maid servants, and she calls out from the tops of the heights overlooking the city, (4) Whoever is naïve, let him come in here! She says to him who lacks understanding, (5) Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. (6) Forsake your ways, you who are naïve, and you shall live; walk in the way of understanding! (7) Whoever corrects a scoffer incurs abuse; and whoever rebukes a wicked man receives a wound. (8) Do not rebuke a scoffer, if you do he will hate you. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. (9) Give instruction to a wise man and he will become wiser; teach a righteous man and he will increase in knowledge. (10) The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (11) By me your days will be multiplied and the years of your life will be increased. (12) If you are wise, your wisdom will be of benefit to you; but if you scoff, you alone will suffer for it.
(13) The woman Folly is boisterous; she is naïve and knows nothing. (14) She sits at the door of her house, on a seat overlooking the heights of the city. (15) She calls to those who pass by, to those who are going about their business, saying, (16) Whoever is naïve, let him come in here! And to him who lacks understanding, she says, (17) Stolen waters are sweet; bread eaten in secret is delicious. (18) But he does not realize that the dead are there; her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
