Hey, this is John at Bible Project.

And on today's episode I'm joined by Dr. Temecki and Dr. Chris Aquinn, and we're going to look at Proverbs 8.

The first nine chapters of the Book of Proverbs contain nine speeches.

And in these speeches we meet four characters.

There are these contrasting pairs of couples, male and female.

It's like a choose your own adventure from the Eden story.

Dear reader, who's called my son, you could listen to Adam and Eve, the redeemed version,

who are the royal father and lady wisdom, and that leads to life.

Or you can listen to the corrupted Adam and Eve, the wicked man and lady Folly, and that leads to death.

And just for you, the reader, then it's like you are back in the garden sitting in front of the trees.

And you have these voices who are vying for your attention.

And that's the drama of these poems.

These four characters are the foolish woman, contrasted with lady wisdom.

The wicked man, contrasted with the royal king.

And in today's episode we're going to look at a speech by lady wisdom known as Proverbs chapter 8.

We learn about who she is, what she values, and what she came from.

So there's four moments.

Yahweh brought me forth. This is in verse 22.

Then verse 23, I was formed.

Verse 24 and 25 both use the same word.

I was birthed. It's the word I underwent.

I was the product of labor pains. It's the verb for to experience labor pains as given birth.

...