Since the purpose of the book of Proverbs is to convey wisdom, it is natural that many of its teachings deal with wisdom’s antithesis—foolishness. Proverbs treats foolishness as mankind’s greatest enemy. It is man’s most lethal disease. He is already infected with it by the time he is born. Wisdom—“the fear of God” (Proverbs 1:7)—is the only antidote.