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| Wisdom's invitation |
The foolish woman's invitation |
3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:
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14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high places of the city,
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15 Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight: |
4 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!"
To him who lacks understanding she says, |
16 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,"
And to him who lacks understanding she says, |
5 "Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 "Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding." |
17 "Stolen water is sweet;
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant." |
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18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of Sheol. |
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Calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths straight (9:15) ...
(1) the former ≡ those who failed to guard their heart and who intentionally passed by where the foolish woman lives (7:7-9)??
(2) the latter ≡ those who are living a righteous life?? - The righteous is not spared from temptation
"Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (9:17) ≡ illicit sex
(1) stolen because a man who takes his neighbour's wife is a thief (c.f., 6:20-35)
(2) drinking water, a euphemism for having sex (c.f., 5:15, 7:18)
(3) eaten in secret suggests an illegal activity
Two invitations ... which will you accept? Would you like to be a guest in Sheol? (9:18)
 » The scoffer ~vs~ The wise (9:7-12)
In contrast, a wise man welcomes your teaching and rebuke ... he increases in wisdom and learning (9:8b-9).
Now a word to the scoffer ... "You are not doing me a favour when you listen to me; if you become wise, you are the one to benefit but if you scorn wisdom, you are the one to suffer." (9:12)
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» Two invitations (9:1-6 ~vs~ 9:13-18)