Proverbs 9

Chapter 9

9:1 Wisdom hath built her ^a house, she hath hewn out her ^b seven pillars:

(a) Christ has prepared him a Church.
(b) That is, many chief supports and principal parts of his Church, as were the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, pastors and teachers.

9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mixed her wine; she hath also ^c furnished her table.

(c) He compares wisdom with great princes who keep open house for all who come.

9:3 She hath sent forth her ^d maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

(d) Meaning, true preachers, who are not infected with mans wisdom.

9:4 Whoever [is] ^e simple, let him turn in here: [as for] him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him,

(e) He who knows his own ignorance, and is void of malice.

9:5 Come, eat of my ^f bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mixed.

(f) By meat and drink is meant the word of God, and the ministration of the sacraments, by which God nourishes his servants in his house which is the Church.

9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a ^g blot.

(g) For the wicked will contemn him and labour to defame him.

9:8 Reprove not a ^h scorner, lest he shall hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

(h) Meaning them who are incorrigible, which Christ calls dogs and swine: or he speaks this in comparison, not that the wicked should not be rebuked, but he shows their malice, and the small hope of the profit.

9:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One [is] ⁱ understanding.

(i) He shows what true understanding is, to know the will of God in his word which is meant by holy things.

9:12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for ^k thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].

(k) You will have the chief profit and convenience of it.

9:13 A ^l foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.

(l) By the foolish woman, some understand the wicked preachers, who counterfeit the word of God: as appears in ( Proverbs 9:16 ) which were the words of the true preachers as in ( Proverbs 9:4 ) but their doctrine is as stolen waters: meaning that they are mens traditions, which are more pleasant to the flesh than the word of God, and therefore they themselves boast of it.