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 man's
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 (Pr 9:16) which were the words of the true
preachers as in (Pr 9:4) but their doctrine is as
stolen waters: meaning that they are men's traditions,
which are more pleasant to the flesh than the word of
God, and therefore they themselves boast of it.
