proverbs 9

Read Proverbs 9 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Pro 8:32-9:18 {s} Wisdom and folly alike call out to the simple, to choose life or death

Pro 9:1-18 chiastic structure:

1a) Pro 9:1-6, Wisdom calls out to the simple, and her end is life;

1) Pro 9:1-3, Wisdom builds her house on seven pillars/ has prepared a feast for the sons of men;
2) Pro 9:4a, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
3) Pro 9:4b-5, She says to him who lacks understanding: “Come, eat of my bread + drink of my wine;”
4) Pro 9:6, “Forsake foolishness and live/ go in the way of understanding;”

1b) Pro 9:7-9, Scoffers and wise men compared and contrasted;

central axis) Pro 9:10-11, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding; For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you;

2b) Pro 9:12, Wise men and scoffers compared;

2a) Pro 9:13-18, The foolish woman calls out to the simple, but her end is death;

1) Pro 9:13-15, A foolish woman calls out to the sons of men;
2) Pro 9:16a, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here;”
3) Pro 9:16b-17, She says to him who lacks understanding: “Stolen water is sweet + secret bread is pleasant;”
4) Pro 9:18 {s} He does not know that to embrace folly is death + hell.

But then we see that this Pro 9:1-18 structure fits within the chapter 8 structure:

Pro 8:1-9:18 chiastic structure:

1a) Pro 8:1-4, Wisdom calls out to the sons of men;

1b) Pro 8:5-21, The excellence of wisdom: I love those who love me + those who seek me diligently find me;

central axis) Pro 8:22-31 {p} Wisdom established from everlasting;

2b) Pro 8:32-36, The excellence of wisdom: whoever finds me finds life + obtains favor from the LORD;

2a) Pro 9:1-18 {s} Wisdom and the foolish woman both call out to men.

The thing that is interesting, is that wisdom in this chapter is personified as a woman. She prepares her house, she makes her feast, and she calls out to men, to come in to her house and partake of her feast, her wisdom.

Then the adulterous woman (who represents sin and willfulness and folly) also prepares her house, makes her feast, and calls out to men, to come in to her house and partake of her feast.

Both “women” are calling out, and both are able to be heard. The men (that includes you and me too ladies) who choose wisdom, will find life. The men who choose folly, will find death.