Proverbs 1:7 (and the verses around it, but particularly this one) highlights the fundamental difference between fools and wise people in this life. The one factor that dictates whether a man or woman is wise – that is, he or she is skillful in this life – or he or she is a fool – that is, he or she is not skillful in this life – is the answer to this question: Does he or she fear the Lord? If the answer is yes, there is hope for wisdom, for skillful living. If the answer is no, if he or she does not fear Yahweh, then he or she will ultimately turn out to be a wicked fool.
