Proverbs 9:12
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If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
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The Preacher of the New Testament, Paul warned, "Every man shall bear his own burden" (Gal 6:5). Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; whatever you sow, that is what you will reap (Gal 6:7-8). So dear reader, you must prove your own work, and then you may have rejoicing in yourself, without measuring by others at all (Gal 6:4).
The personification of wisdom continues from the previous chapter to this climactic verse. Lady Wisdom offers a house and banquet (9:1-5). What will you do with her? See the comments on 8:1 and 9:1. Will you ignore her and choose certain death (8:36)?
After this climactic conclusion, we are reminded again of the foolish and whorish woman, of which there are many in the world (9:13-18). This woman is bent on destroying young men. She also has a house, prepared with a perfumed bed; but she takes her foolish and unsuspecting guests to hell with her (5:3-13; 6:23-35; 7:6-23; 9:18).
Today, dear reader, you must choose. And tomorrow you must choose again. Will you humble yourself before God's perfect words of wisdom? Or will you reject them in the pride, stubbornness, and rebellion of your wicked heart? You cannot avoid the choice. What will it be? You will govern your thoughts, words, and actions by revealed wisdom; or you will reject it and allow habits, lusts, the world, and others to direct your life.
Ezekiel wrote, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek 18:20). Solomon warns, "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself" (14:14). If you backslide from wisdom, the Lord will fill your life with the painful results. But the man who rejects folly will be satisfied with personal blessings.
If you play with sin, you will suffer for it; but if you choose holiness, you will be blessed. The way of transgressors is hard (13:15), and you will not know how hard until too late (1:20-32; Ps 36:1-3). When God swears in His wrath, there is no deliverance (29:1; Ps 95:7-11; Heb 2:1-4; 4:1; 10:26-31). Lot scorned wisdom, and he ended a life of potential blessing sitting in the mouth of a cave, ruined, with his two daughters pregnant by his own folly. But Abraham was God's friend, justified, and covered with many blessings.
The great choice of life, which Solomon repeats often, is the choice of wisdom. If you choose her, you will be blessed; if you reject her, you will be punished. There is no escape; your choice will be repaid. You will bear the consequences. Your wisdom cannot benefit God, nor does your folly hurt him (Job 35:5-8). You alone bear the results.
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