From NET bible notes, "Chapter 9 forms the conclusion of the lengthy introduction to the book. Both wisdom and folly will make their final appeals; and both appeal to the simpletons. Wisdom offers life with no mention of pleasure; folly offers pleasure with no mention of death."
See the parallel of what wisdom and the folly woman did. They both sit at the high point of the city, they both calling out to the simple people and they both offered food. "The parallel is deliberate, of course, showing the competing appeals for those passing by (NET notes)." However, the result are different. One leads to live and the other to death. Can we tell the difference and listen to wisdom?
What stands in between these 2 callings are v.6-12. Wisdom tried to convince the fool to abandon the foolish ways. However, it is up to the audience if they will listen. If they are a mocker, they will insult the wisdom, and hate her v.7-8a. Only if the audience is a wise person then they will love wisdom v.8b-9. "If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you are a mocker, you alone must bear it." (v.12).
The Bible has said it very clearly, it is up to us if we want to listen and bear our own consequences. Do we want to abandon the foolish way? Or do we want to mocker the wisdom and bear our own consequences?
Audrey
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