To the banquet she prepared at her house (:1-2) Lady Wisdom sends her servants to invite the guests (;3). The invitation in our verse is straightforward, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” Not sure I’d be willing to accept this invite!
Wisdom calls her invitees “simple” – not understood as “stupid” or “deranged” but rather meaning “naive” or “immature.” I actually like the East Baltimore definition for this person – “no street-smarts.”
The idea is not someone who’s bad, but someone who can either be easily taken advantage of or can be easily swayed into involvement with inappropriate people, places or things (see 1:22).
But our verse goes on to say she’s addressing “those who have no sense.” Literally those who “come-up-short of heart,” these are folks who don’t think things through and, consequently, aren’t making good choices.
While this verse may have a negative feel to it – in truth, it’s a message of hope! Later in this chapter (:16), Folly makes the exact same offer to the very same people that Wisdom does here. This is just a preemptive strike on Wisdom’s part!
Lady Wisdom has a good safe place for someone to be and she has resources that she’s willing to freely make available to any who are interested – even to the immature and those coming-up-short on common sense.
If I’ve never gotten with it before, I’m invited. If I’ve just been off-track for a while, I’m invited. If I just admit I need some help, I’m in!