A brief glimpse of the book of Proverbs. Both Madam Folly and Lady Wisdom offer their life investment choices to the world at large.

1. Proverbs:
Choosing between
Lady Wisdom
and Madame Folly
Two paths: ‘the way of wisdom’
and ‘the way of folly’

2. Proverbs gets its Hebrew name from a
word meaning likeness
Many pictures will be presented
what wisdom looks like
- in advise to a son
- in poetically stringing a set of one
liners together, like pearls
- as one liners, like loose pearls

3. Two main views:
Proverbs are maxims - rules of thumb generally
true
RC Sproul’s view
and
Proverbs are all 100% true but in ensemble,
qualifying each other
Bruce Waltke’s view

4. Pv 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and instruction.

5. Importance of the fear of God
• Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one
may avoid the snares of death.

6. Wisdom speaks
Proverbs 1:
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the
city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long
will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I
will make my words known to you.

7. Pv 3:7 Do not be wise in
your own eyes; fear the
LORD and shun evil.
Wisdom speaks

8. • Pv 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the
Lord's discipline or be weary of his
reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom
he loves, as a father the son in whom he
delights.
Wisdom speaks

9. Pv 3:13 Blessed are those who find
wisdom, those who gain
understanding,

10. Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, do
not forget my teaching, but
let your heart keep my
commandments,
2 for length of days and
years of life and peace
they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love
and faithfulness forsake
you;
bind them around your
neck;
write them on the tablet of
your heart.
4 So you will find favor
and good success[ in the
sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
and do not lean on
your own
understanding.
6 In all your ways
acknowledge him,
and he will make
straight your paths.
A TRUST LINKED TO DISCIPLINES OF GRACE

11. Pride and humility
• Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty
spirit before stumbling.

12. Wisdom with God at creation
Proverbs 8:22-31 (ESV)
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[d] delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

13. Pv 14:1 The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands …
… the foolish one tears hers down.

14. Two women call to the
simple
Lady Wisdom…

15. spoiler alert
and another lady to follow
more on that later

16. Proverbs 2
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my
commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart
to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for
understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden
treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the
knowledge of God.

17. • Pv 13: 1 A wise son heeds his
father’s instruction, but a mocker
does not respond to rebukes.

18. • Pv 3:24 Toward the scorners he
is scornful, but to the humble he
gives favor

19. Three kinds of people in the
world
• The simple
• The simple who became wise,
choosing the way of wisdom
• The simple who became fools,
choosing the way of folly

20. Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the
ears. Pv 26:17

21. Pv 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect
you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 The
beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it
cost all you have, get understanding.
So who’s this?

22. Just as Lady Wisdom calls to the simple,
so does Lady Folly

23. Provers 9:13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows
nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on
the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who
are going straight on their way, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn
in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is
sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not
know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of
Sheol.
Just as Lady Wisdom calls to the simple,
so does Lady Folly

24. Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the
eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send
him. Pv 10:26

25. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not
even bring it back to his mouth. Proverbs 19:24 (ESV)

26. Pv 11:31 If the righteous is
repaid on earth, how much more
the wicked and the sinner!
And sobre reminders…

27. Lady Wisdom calls to the simple and naive
and so does Madame Folly
And the simple may choose the way of wisdom
of the way of folly

28. Receiving criticism…
• Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own
eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
• Proverbs 15:32 - He who neglects discipline despises
himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires
understanding.

29. Pv 29:11 Fools give full vent to
their rage, but the wise bring calm
in the end.

30. Don’t be foolish and believe "Stolen water
is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
Proverbs 9:17

31. Go to the ant, you sluggard and
learn a lesson on industriousness

32. The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the
curse, but discloses nothing. Proverbs 29:24 (ESV)

33. Importance of what you say
and how you say it
•Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth
away wrath: but grievous words stir up
anger.
•Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue
is a tree of life: but perverseness
therein is a breach in the spirit.
•Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise
disperse knowledge: but the heart of
the foolish doeth not so.
•Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's
mouth are as deep waters, and the
wellspring of wisdom as a flowing
brook.
•Proverbs 18:7 A fool's mouth is his
destruction, and his lips are the snare
of his soul.

35. A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even
the compassion of the wicked is cruel. Pv 12:10

37. • Pv 25:21,22 If your enemy is
hungry, give him bread to eat, and
if he is thirsty, give him water to
drink, for you will heap burning
coals on his head, and the Lord will
reward you.

38. Pv 26:11 :Like a dog that
returns to its vomit is a fool
who repeats his folly.

39. Wisdom exceeds folly
as light
exceeds darkness

40. Pv 19:20 Listen to advice and accept
discipline, and at the end you will be
counted among the wise.

41. Above all…
• Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, for
from it flow the springs of life.

42. And sometimes proverbs is
a riddle
• Do not answer a fool according to his folly
• Do answer a fool according to his folly
wisdom knows when not to stoop to a fools ways
becoming like a fool in answering him and when
to in wisdom point out his folly and help him

43. Wisdom with God at creation
more riddles
Proverbs 30:4 (ESV)
Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered
the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and
what is his son's name? Surely you know!

44. When a man’s ways
are right with the
Lord, He makes
even his enemies to
be at peace with
him. Proverbs 16:7

45. The pitfalls of preoccupation
with the fear of man…
• Proverbs 29:25 - The fear of man brings a snare, but he who
trusts in the LORD will be exalted.

46. Get ready for a riddle
• Solomon may be assuming various aliases, giving
more proverbs in the last few chapters
• and leading into Proverbs 31 having the final riddle
• wisdom and folly have been presented to the
young man… and now the choice…
This is the view of Michael Reeves

47. Pv 31:30 Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is
vain, but a woman who
fears the LORD is to be
praised.

48. Pv 31:30 Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is
vain, but a woman who
fears the LORD is to be
praised.

49. Pv 31 But the woman who fears
the Lord shall be praised
wisdom is industrious, providing for her family

50. wisdom is business savvy,
considering property and buying it

51. The choice between wisdom and
folly has been presented
so marry wisdom

52. 10
[d] An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14
She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17

53. 16
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17
She dresses herself[e] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[f]
22
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them;

54. 24
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

55. The choice between wisdom and
folly has been presented
so marry wisdom

56. Proverbs is the 7th most quoted book
from the Old Testament in the New Testament