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Wisdom and Folly

Chapter 9

At God’s Banquet[a]

Wisdom has built her house;
    she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slain her animals and mixed her wine,
    and she has spread her table.
She has sent forth her maidservants
    and proclaimed from the heights of the city,
“Let those who are simple[b] turn in here.”
    To the person without understanding she says,
“Come and partake of my food,
    and taste the wine that I have prepared!
Abandon foolishness so that you may live;
    walk in the way of understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 This beautiful poem once again presents Wisdom as a person. She invites men and women to a feast in her house, the seven pillars of which symbolize perfection. The theme of the feast at which the wise are gathered was dear to antiquity; Christ, too, will speak to us of guests invited to the royal feast (see Mt 22:2; Lk 14:16). Reading this fascinating invitation, Christians will be reminded of the Eucharistic Supper where Christ offers them the word and the bread. It is the sign and foreshadowing of the royal feast to which are called all human beings, and where all will experience the joy of God.
  2. Proverbs 9:4 Simple: see note on Prov 1:4.

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Wisdom has built(A) her house;
    she has set up[a] its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(B)
    she has also set her table.(C)
She has sent out her servants, and she calls(D)
    from the highest point of the city,(E)
    “Let all who are simple(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(G) she says,
    “Come,(H) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.(I)
Leave your simple ways and you will live;(J)
    walk in the way of insight.”(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out