Page 95 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Personified wisdom speaks in 1:20-33. Then the father speaks in commendation of wisdom. She will save
from the ways of wicked men (2:12) and from the adulterous woman (2:16). The blessings of searching
diligently for wisdom are returned as part of a long, fruitful walk. She is more precious than rubies (3:15)
and is a tree of life (3:18). Along with information on wisdom, the father includes some good, practical
information on life. He illustrates about wisdom’s practical side with advice on how to treat a neighbor
(3:27-30). Yet lady wisdom is never far away in his teaching. She is almost spoken of as if the father were
advising his son on the selection of a future wife. “Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and
she will honor you (4:8).” Listening to his words is deeply important. They affect everything in life from
body and heart to mouth and eyes as well as feet (4:20-27).

In some ways this section of Proverbs is redundant. The son is
warned about the adulterous woman in contrast to “the wife of
your youth” (5:1-23). The topic returns in warnings about being
attracted to a neighbor’s wife (6:20-35). The adulterous woman is
addressed again in 7:1-27. The chapter begins with the call to “Say
to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and to insight, ‘You are my relative’
(7:4.)” Lady wisdom is the best protection against heading down a Figure 46: Wisdom or folly?
path that leads to hell and the grave (7:27). We might wonder
about Solomon’s seeming overkill on the topic of adultery.

Chapter eight continues the picture of lady wisdom. She is standing beside
the gate leading into the city, beckoning everyone who passes, “To you, O
people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind…Choose my instruction
instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold (8:4-10).” This wisdom is
apparently available to everyone. It is not the exclusive property of those
who have OT revelation. Kings use wisdom to reign (8:16). Yahweh used
wisdom to create the world (8:27). Wisdom is pictured as a person alongside
of Yahweh delighting in his work of creation. “I was filled with delight day
after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and
delighting in mankind (8:30).” Humans need wisdom for God has woven
“her” into the very structure of the created world and into the way people
interact with one another. To disregard Yahweh’s wisdom is to turn one’s
back on life itself. “Those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who
hate me love death (8:36).” Figure 47: Greek Lady Wisdom

The final picture of lady wisdom is a complete contrast with lady(?) folly. Wisdom is pictured as a
wealthy woman with a large house, rich foods, and servants. She has prepared a banquet. Then she calls
out at the highest point of the city to the simple (inexperienced), “Come, eat my food and drink the wine
I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight (9:5-6).”

The chapter breaks at this point with a paragraph on the effect of wisdom with two different types of
people, the mocker and the wise, before describing lady folly in a very different way than lady wisdom.
“Folly is an unruly woman (9:13).” She has a house, but it is not luxurious. She also sits at the high point
of the city and calls out to the simple. She has not prepared a feast herself, but apparently has stolen it
from wisdom. Her pitch is simple, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious (9:17).”
Solomon ends this section with the observation about the fate of those who listen to folly. “Her guests
are deep in the realm of the dead.” How different are lady wisdom and lady folly!
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