Table of Contents
Proverbs 9
Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Notes
Cross Reference
Concordance
Commentary
Rashi
Verse 1
<html><b>Wisdom has built her house</b> With wisdom has the Holy One, blessed be He, built the world. <b>she has hewn her seven pillars</b> The seven days of Creation. Another explanation: This refers to the seven books of the Torah, since (Num. 10:35f.) “And it came about when the ark traveled…” is an individual book, as is stated in tractate Shabbath (116a).</html>
Verse 2
<html><b>She has prepared her meat, she has mingled her wine</b> She has mixed it with water, like strong wine, that is unfit to drink unmixed. <b>she has even set her table</b> All creations of liquid and solid.</html>
Verse 3
<html><b>She has sent her maidens</b> Adam and Eve.</html>
Verse 4
<html><b>“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”</b> and learn it and become wise.</html>
Verse 5
<html><b>of the wine I have mingled</b> Heb. מסכתי.</html>
Verse 6
<html><b>Leave, you simpletons</b> the way of simplicity and live. <b>and step</b> Heb. מסכתי, an expression of stepping, as in (Job 23:11): “To his steps (באשרו) my foot was held fast.”</html>
Verse 7
<html><b>and he who reproves a wicked man, that is his blemish</b> It is a blemish to the one who reproves [him], for this one berates him and does not heed him. This is a warning that it is forbidden to talk with those who entice to worship idols, even to reprove them and to draw them near.</html>
Verse 9
<html><b>Give a wise man, and he will become yet wiser</b> To a worthy pupil, and the Midrash Aggadah (Tanchuma, Vayakhel 6) states: It was said to Noah, “From every clean animal, etc.” (Gen. 7:2), and when he went out, “And he took from all clean animals, etc.” (ibid. 8:20). He said, “What did the Holy One, blessed be He, see to increase the number of these? It is only because He wished that I offer up some of them.” <b>teach a righteous man</b> wisdom, and he will increase in learning from his own knowledge in addition to what he heard.</html>
Verse 10
<html><b>and the knowledge of the holy ones</b> is the root of understanding.</html>
Verse 11
<html><b>and they will add to you years of life</b> Years of life are those of sustenance and wealth.</html>
Verse 16
<html><b>and whoever is devoid of sense</b> (lit. and one devoid of sense.) <b>and she says to him</b> these words. What does she say to him?</html>
Verse 17
<html><b>Stolen water is sweet</b> The pleasure afforded by intimacy with a single woman does not equal that afforded by intimacy with a married woman. Also, regarding the commandments (other editions: sectarianism), stolen water is sweet, for they were afraid to do it in public, but did it in secret.</html>