Proverbs 8:22

created me as His first course, before His works of old...From everlasting I was established: God's wisdom has always been. Here, wisdom is shown as a person, but it is not an actual person. Wisdom is part of God's character and nature. Unlike pagan gods, God does not need an outside advisor (see Isaiah 40:13–14). Jesus is the highest point of God's wisdom (see Colossians 1:15–17; 2:3).

The first part of Proverbs reaches a peak when the son meets two women. Both invite the young man, and the reader, into a close relationship. The young man and the reader must choose between:

• The woman named Wisdom, who represents God's true wisdom (Proverbs 8:1–9:6)

• The woman named Folly (9:13–18), who represents worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16)

Both women's houses are on "the heights of the city" (Proverbs 9:3, 14), which suggests ancient temples. The choice is between the true God and false gods.