“"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."”
Proverbs 9:10
Summary
Proverbs 9 contrasts the invitations of Wisdom and Folly, both personified as women, each preparing a feast and calling people to join them. Wisdom builds her house, prepares a banquet, and calls out to the simple to choose understanding. Wisdom’s invitation leads to life and insight, with a stress on the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. Conversely, Folly is loud and deceptive, seducing those who are naive with the promise of illicit pleasures that lead to death. The chapter emphasizes the consequences of accepting one invitation over the other, highlighting the life-giving aspects of Wisdom and the destructive nature of Folly.
Key Themes
WisdomFollyFear of the LordChoice and Consequence