Thy Strong Word — Proverbs 9: Lady Wisdom versus Lady Folly

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Solomon continues the personification of wisdom as a woman and contrasts her with Lady Folly. Wisdom is portrayed as having built her house, prepared a feast, and sent out her servants to invite people to partake of her rich offerings, symbolizing an invitation to learn and live by her prudent ways. In stark contrast, Folly is described as loud, seductive, and lacking in wisdom, sitting at the door of her house to lure those who pass by into her deceptive embrace, leading them to death and the depths of the grave.

The Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Proverbs 9.

Step into the spiritually rich landscape of the Book of Proverbs, a text divinely inspired and attributed to Solomon, the sage king endowed by God with unsurpassed wisdom. This ancient scripture begins with heartfelt lessons from a father to a son, laying a foundation of moral and ethical guidance before unfolding into a collection of timeless proverbs. It uniquely personifies wisdom and folly as two paths that stand before humanity, offering a choice between a life filled with virtue, fear of the Lord, and understanding, and one marred by shortsighted pleasures and foolishness. Proverbs serves as a compass for those seeking to walk in righteousness, offering insights that resonate deeply with the human experience, guiding us toward a life of purpose and discernment according to God’s will.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

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Proverbs 9

The Way of Wisdom

9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
² She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
⁴ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
⁵ “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Leave your simple ways,^[a] and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
⁸ Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
⁹ Give instruction^[b] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹ For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

¹³ The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive^[c] and knows nothing.
¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
¹⁵ calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
¹⁶ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead^[d] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple
2. Proverbs 9:9 Hebrew lacks instruction
3. Proverbs 9:13 Or full of simpleness
4. Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Rephaim

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org