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Proverbs 9 Summary

Wisdom Calls; Folly Entices

Wisdom has built her house with seven pillars, killed her beasts, mingled her wine, and furnished her table, sending forth her maidens to cry out to the simple and those lacking understanding, inviting them to eat her bread and drink her wine and forsake folly to live. Reproof of a scorner brings shame while rebuking a wise man brings his love; instruction to the wise increases learning and the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. In contrast, the foolish woman is clamorous and simple, sitting at her door in the high places of the city to call passengers with stolen waters that are sweet but lead to death in the depths of hell.

Key themes

Wisdom's callAcceptance of reproofFear of the LORDFolly's deceptionTwo paths offered

Key verses

Proverbs 9:1

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

Proverbs 9:6

Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

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

Proverbs 9:17

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

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