Read Proverbs 9 at Bible Gateway.
This chapter forms a chiastic structure:
Pro 9:1-18
1A: Pro 9:1-6, Wisdom personified prepares her feast and calls to men to turn in to her;
1B: Pro 9:7-9, Contrast between the scoffer and the wise man;
CENTRAL AXIS: Pro 9:10-11, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
2B: Pro 9:12, Comparison of the scoffer and the wise man;
2A: Pro 9:13-18, The foolish woman prepares her feast and calls to men to turn in to her.
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 who choose wisdom, will find life. The men who choose folly, will find death.
Please also note that there are seven pillars or supporting columns to the house that wisdom builds (vs. 1). Two of those pillars are the fear of the LORD (vs. 10) and a teachable heart able to receive correction (vs. 8-9). Let us keep our eyes open as we continue through Proverbs, and perhaps the Spirit of truth will reveal to us the other pillars of wisdom.
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