Throughout the book of Proverbs, there is imagery of two women. The first woman represents wisdom. She is a sister and an intimate friend who needs to be kept close and will give you life. The second woman represents foolishness. She is a forbidden woman, an adulteress with smooth words, who needs to be avoided and will take your life. We will learn how to avoid foolishness and its dangers.

Throughout the Bible, we are presented with two ways, two paths, two roads, two gates, and two foundations. The path of the righteous is wisdom, life, and prosperity, while the path of the wicked is foolishness, death, and destruction. Why is it that we know the right path to take yet often choose the wrong one? In our text, the son is confronted by different voices, and the voices he listens to will determine the path he takes. 

The Fear of the Lord is an important phrase repeated 14 times in Proverbs and is considered the motto of the book. What does it mean to fear the Lord? By understanding what it means to fear the Lord, we will better grasp wisdom and how to obtain it. 

When we think about wisdom in general, it is universal across time and cultures, passed down through tradition from one generation to the next, and learned through ritual—all desire wisdom. As we take a closer look at wisdom in the book of Proverbs, we will learn where it comes from, what it contains, and the conditions for wisdom.