Proverbs , Sarah Barry
TWO INVITATIONS
Passage: Proverbs 9:1~18  
Key verse: 10
Invitations of Wisdom and Folly9 Wisdom has built(A) her house;
she has set up[a] its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(B)
she has also set her table.(C)
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls(D)
from the highest point of the city,(E)
4 “Let all who are simple(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(G) she says,
5 “Come,(H) eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.(I)
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;(J)
walk in the way of insight.”(K)
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(L)
8 Do not rebuke mockers(M) or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.(N)
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(O)
10 The fear of the Lord(P) is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One(Q) is understanding.(R)
11 For through wisdom[b] your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.(S)
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;(T)
she is simple and knows nothing.(U)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,(V)
15 calling out(W) 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(X) she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!(Y)”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(Z)
9 Wisdom has built(A) her house;
she has set up[a] its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(B)
she has also set her table.(C)
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls(D)
from the highest point of the city,(E)
4 “Let all who are simple(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(G) she says,
5 “Come,(H) eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.(I)
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;(J)
walk in the way of insight.”(K)
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(L)
8 Do not rebuke mockers(M) or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.(N)
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(O)
10 The fear of the Lord(P) is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One(Q) is understanding.(R)
11 For through wisdom[b] your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.(S)
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;(T)
she is simple and knows nothing.(U)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,(V)
15 calling out(W) 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(X) she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!(Y)”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(Z)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
- Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me
Cross references
- Proverbs 9:1 : Eph 2:20-22; 1Pe 2:5
- Proverbs 9:2 : Isa 25:6; 62:8
- Proverbs 9:2 : Lk 14:16-23
- Proverbs 9:3 : S Pr 1:20; 8:1-3
- Proverbs 9:3 : ver 14
- Proverbs 9:4 : S Pr 1:22
- Proverbs 9:4 : ver 16; S Pr 6:32
- Proverbs 9:5 : Jn 7:37-38
- Proverbs 9:5 : S Ps 42:2; 63:1; 143:6; Isa 44:3; 55:1
- Proverbs 9:6 : S Pr 8:35
- Proverbs 9:6 : S Pr 3:1-2
- Proverbs 9:7 : Pr 23:9; Mt 7:6
- Proverbs 9:8 : Pr 15:12
- Proverbs 9:8 : Ps 141:5
- Proverbs 9:9 : Pr 1:5, 7; 12:15; 13:10; 14:6; 15:31; 19:25
- Proverbs 9:10 : S Pr 1:7
- Proverbs 9:10 : Ps 22:3; Pr 30:3
- Proverbs 9:10 : S Dt 4:6
- Proverbs 9:11 : S Ge 15:15; S Dt 11:21; S Pr 3:1-2; 10:27
- Proverbs 9:13 : Pr 7:11
- Proverbs 9:13 : S Pr 5:6
- Proverbs 9:14 : ver 3; Eze 16:25
- Proverbs 9:15 : S Pr 1:20
- Proverbs 9:16 : S Pr 1:22
- Proverbs 9:17 : Pr 20:17
- Proverbs 9:18 : S Pr 2:18; 7:26-27
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Wisdom's invitation (1-12)
Wisdom builds her house and prepares choice meat and mixed wine abundantly. She sends out her servants and invites all, "Come, eat and drink!" (Mt 22:1-14). It is free, however, it requires humble repentance. They must leave their wicked ways. Those who mock rebukes and corrections will refuse this invitation. Then, they alone will suffer. But those who fear God and love the knowledge of the Holy one will come to walk in the way of insight. They will be wiser and many years will be added to their life. Jesus invites all, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest!" He will give us eternal life when we come to him humbly.
2. Folly's invitation (13-18)
Folly sounds similar to wisdom (Gen 3:1). She also loudly invites those who pass by, "Come to my house!" She is lying. She prepares no food and no wine. Her motto is, "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!" She promises the secret sinful life will be enjoyable, but to follow her leads to death. (Gen 3:19)
Prayer: Lord, to fear the Lord and to follow your way is wisdom. Let me humbly repent and follow your way of eternal life.
One Word: Come and follow Jesus