PROVERBS 9 - Invitations of wisdom and folly 

CONSIDER

• Wisdom and folly is pictured as two different women

• The one quietly offering something more precious than all worldly riches and honor

• The other raucously tempting those going by to pass through her doorway, only to tumble unexpectedly into the ‘depths of the grave’

• The voice to which we respond as we live our daily lives demonstrates to all whether we are among the wise or among the foolish of men  <R1795>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Wisdom gives hope that can be found by the foolish and simple

Proverbs 8:1,5 NIV

[1] Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? [5] You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

Proverbs 8:17 NIV

[17] I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:34-35 NIV

[34] Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. [35] For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 9:4-6 NIV

[4] “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, [5] “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. [6] Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

Proverbs 9:12-16 NIV

[12] If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. [13] Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. [14] She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, [15] calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, [16] “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says

Proverbs 10:8,10-11 NIV

[8] The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. [10] Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. [11] The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 19:1 NIV

[1] Better the poor whose walk is blameless

 than a fool whose lips are perverse

** Mockers do not want to be corrected and will insult you, while the wise see correction as an opportunity to grow  

Proverbs 9:7-9 NIV

[7] Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. [8] Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. [9] Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 12:1 NIV

[1] Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

 but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 12:15 NIV

[15] The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 13:16 NIV

[16] All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

Proverbs 14:6 NIV

[6] The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

Proverbs 15:10,12 NIV

[10] Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. [12] Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.

Revelation 3:19 NIV

[19] Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Proverbs 15:31-32 NIV

[31] Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. [32] Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Proverbs 21:11 NIV

[11] When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

Proverbs 21:24 NIV

[24] The proud and arrogant person---“Mocker” is his name---behaves with insolent fury.

Proverbs 22:10 NIV

[10] Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.

Proverbs 29:8 NIV

[8] Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.

** Knowledge leads to wisdom and ignorance leads to foolishness  <H85>

The 19th century Old Testament scholar EJ Young remarked, “Wisdom is the true and correct evaluation of things, whereas knowledge is the true recognition of what things are. It emphasizes the objective, whereas ‘wisdom’ brings to the fore the subjective aspect.”

Proverbs 9:10-11 NIV

[10] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. [11] For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Isaiah 33:6 NIV

[6] He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

** If you love and fear the Lord rather than man, then hate evil and seek wisdom

Proverbs 8:13 NIV

[13] To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8:36 NIV

[36] But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 9:10-11 NIV

[10] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. [11] For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Proverbs 16:6 NIV

[6] Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.

Proverbs 29:1 NIV

[1] Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.

Proverbs 29:25 NIV

[25] Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

** The smallest piece of bread demonstrates how the prostitute reduces the life of a man to insignificance, including the loss of his wealth, freedom, family, purity, dignity, and even his soul  <M130>

Proverbs 6:26-29 NIV

[26] For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man's wife preys on your very life. [27] Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? [28] Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? [29] So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Proverbs 9:17-18 NIV

[17] “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! ” [18] But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Proverbs 11:22 NIV

[22] Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.