Proverbs Nine

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

Navigate to Verse

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

her house. The house built by “Wisdom” is described as having seven strong pillars. That built by Folly is seated in the high places of the city (Proverbs 9:14), the location of idol worship.

seven pillars. The “seven pillars” of wisdom, on which the stable and beautiful house of true faith is established, probably are reflected in the seven attributes of heavenly wisdom listed in James 3:17.

Proverbs 9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

Proverbs 9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

Proverbs 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Proverbs 9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

beginning of wisdom. Compare Proverbs 1:7.

Proverbs 9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Proverbs 9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Proverbs 9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

Proverbs 9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

Proverbs 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Proverbs 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Proverbs 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

dead are there. In keeping with the figure, the spiritually dead frequent the house of folly, with its alien religion, and eventually descend into the depths of “hell” (Hebrew sheol, the place of the spirits of the unsaved dead).

depths of hell. This is the third warning in the first section of Proverbs (Proverbs 1-9) that consorting with harlots may well lead to hell (Hebrew sheol, the tentative abode of the spirits of the lost). See Proverbs 5:5; 7:27.