Proverbs 9:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."

NIV: Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight."

NASB: Abandon your foolishness and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.'

CSB: Leave inexperience behind, and you will live; pursue the way of understanding.

NLT: Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.'

KJV: Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

NKJV: Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

The personification of Wisdom as a wealthy, generous, benevolent woman (Proverbs 9:1–5) calls those who are simple and lacking good judgment to leave ignorance behind. Instead, they can take what she offers, resulting in life. Scripture makes it clear that true wisdom does not begin with intelligence or education; it starts with respect for God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Those who seek God's truth can grow in godly wisdom, even if they were lacking sense beforehand (Proverbs 8:5). In a very similar way, basic spiritual insight requires a proper relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:14).

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul contrasts the condition of believers to the state they were in when God called them: "not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:26–30).

On a similar note, Paul tells the Ephesian believers: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:4–5, 10). Because of the great transformation the Lord has made in our lives, we can "walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time (Colossians 4:5).

Proverbs 9:1–6 continues from chapter 8 by depicting wisdom as a woman. Here, she is a refined lady who has built a grand house and prepared a lavish feast. She calls out everywhere for those who are simple and lack judgment to participate as guests at her feast. This passage begins the chapter on a positive note, but a negative tone quickly follows. Foolishness, also depicted as a woman, will make similar invitations to those who lack sense.

Wisdom is portrayed as a dignified woman who prepares a spacious house and feast. She invites those who are gullible and lacking judgment to improve their wisdom, by accepting her invitation. She urges invitees to abandon their simple ways and walk in the way of insight. Solomon then contrasts the attitudes of those who sincerely seek truth, compared to those who hate being corrected. The chapter ends with a description of Wisdom's mirror image: Folly. She is seductive and ignorant. She invites the gullible to enter her house, promising that immorality is enjoyable and pleasant. Sadly, those who are seduced do not realize her invitation leads to ruin and damnation.

In chapter 7, Solomon portrayed an evil woman (Proverbs 7:7–27). In chapter 8 he portrays wisdom as a refined lady who offers instruction to all who heed her call. Chapter 9 contrasts Lady Wisdom with the evil Woman Folly, who lures the foolish to their ruin. This extended warning about the dangers of rejecting God's wisdom leads into an extended collection of standalone proverbial comments, beginning in chapter 10.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.