Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

As a builder I have a keen understanding of the importance of a good foundation. Without it everything that we build upon it will eventually crumble and fall. So too is our Christian walk, if we do not begin with a reverence and obedience, a true piety  to the most Holy God our walk is doomed to collapse. – Mike

Matthew Poole’s English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The fear of the Lord; reverence and obedience to God, or his worship and service, as this word is commonly used.

The beginning; either the foundation, or the top, and perfection, or chief point, without which all other knowledge is vain and useless.

Fools; wicked men, called fools through this whole book; such as do not fear God.

Despise wisdom and instruction; are so far from attaining true wisdom, that they despise it, and all the means of getting it; which fully proves what he now said, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

The fear of the Lord — the principle of true piety (compare Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 14:26, Proverbs 14:27; Job 28:28; Psalm 34:11; Psalm 111:10; Acts 9:31).

beginning — first part, foundation.

fools — the stupid and indifferent to God‘s character and government; hence the wicked.