Proverbs 9:13

FOLLY ALSO CRIES TO THE SIMPLE; TURN YE IN HITHER

"The foolish woman is clamorous;

She is simple, and knoweth nothing.

And she sitteth at the door of her house,

On a seat in the high places of the city,

To call to them that pass by,

Who go right on their ways:

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither;

And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

Stolen waters are sweet,

And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But he knoweth not that the dead are there;

That her guests are in the depths of Sheol."

This is one of the most impressive chapters in the Bible. It is this picture of the two women, Wisdom and Folly. "The two give the contrast between rectitude and sexual debauchery."[19] Both of them shout their messages from the highest places, inviting the simple ones to "turn in hither." One of these is holy, pure, eternal, righteous and the Great Benefactor of all who heed her cry. The other is unholy, shameless, wicked and seductive, bringing desolation and death to all who follow her, and whose guests are in the depths of the grave. And every man makes his choice of which he shall patronize.

Keil noted that, "Folly is here the incarnation of worldly lust."[20]

The description of this evil woman stresses her ignorance, noisiness, aggressiveness and persuasiveness. She diligently advocates the sin which she covets.

"She knoweth nothing" (Proverbs 9:13). The text here is a little uncertain, and the RSV reads it, "The woman knows no shame." The literal Hebrew here reads, "The woman of folly is boisterous, simplicity, and knows not what."[21] "The woman Folly is here regarded as a real person (personified); and between her and Virtue man has to make his choice."[22]

"Stolen waters are sweet" (Proverbs 9:17). "The secret enjoyment of sexual immorality is here offered by Folly. Her pleasures cannot be experienced in open daylight, but secretly, under the cover of darkness."[23]

Sin, due to the depravity of man, is made more attractive by the very fact of its being prohibited. "Pleasures are attractive because they are forbidden (Romans 7:7); and this is the one great proof of the inherent corruption of human nature."[24]

"He knoweth not that the dead are there" (Proverbs 9:18). With this warning the long first section of Proverbs (called by Cook the introduction)[25] is brought to a conclusion, and that great collection of separate proverbs for which the book is generally remembered begins at once in Proverbs 10. "Wisdom and Folly have both spoken, and their houses have been realistically painted for us. The learner is now challenged to choose."[26]