1 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; (Cp. Isa, 5:22. Mingles with spices not water.)
She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens: (An Eastern custom. In N.T. the invitation was carried by menservants [Matt. 22:3. Luke 14:17])
She cries (or each to cry) upon the highest places of the city, (Cp. 1 Sam. 10:5,10,&c.)
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in here:
As for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
5 Come, eat of my bread (put for all kinds of food),
And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the heartless (illustrations: Moses [Heb. 11:24-27]; Caleb and Joshua [Num. 13:30-33; 14:6-9,38]; Rahab [Josh. 2:9-13; 6:25. Heb. 11:31]; Ruth [1:16; 2:11,12]; Dioysius and Damaris [Acts 17;34]; Ephesians [Acts 19:19. Eph. 2:13]; members of Nero's household [Phil. 1;13;4:22]), and live [for ever];
And go in the way of understanding.
7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame:
And he that rebukes a lawless man gets himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner (illustrations: Joseph [Gen. 37:2]; the Prophet [2 Cron. 25:16]; Judeans [Isa. 36:21]; the Baptist [Matt, 14:1-10]), lest he hate you: (We condemn who has wronged us, and he condemns us. God's plan is to convict and make the sinner condemn himself.)
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. (Illustrations: Nathan [2 Sam. 12. Cp. 1 Chron. 3:5 and 1 Kings 1:32-34]; the 2 disciples [Luke 24:25,29]; Peter [John 21:17]; Peter [Gal. 2:11-14. Cp. 2 Pet. 3:15].)
9 Give instruction (or a hint) to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The reverence of the LORD is the beginning (not the end) of wisdom:
And the knowledge of the holy One is discernment.
11 For by me your days shall be great (in importance and usefulness. Not necessarily "many" in number),
And the years of your life shall be increased (as noted above).
12 If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself:
But if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
B5 Q 13. Her call.
R S 14. From high places.
T 15. From the right way.
Q 16. Her call.
R T 17. To the wrong way.
S 18. To the lowest places.
13 A foolish (fat, and then dense, or stupid, which comes of it, showing itself in impiety) woman is clamorous: (The contrast is with v.1.)
She is simple, and knows nothing whatsoever.
14 For she sits at the entrance of her house,
On a seat in the high places (see v.3) of the city,
15 To call passengers
[To call them] go straightforward on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in here:
And as for him that wants understanding, she saith to him,
17 "Stolen waters are sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he knows not that the Rephaim (see Gen. 6) are there;
And that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.