“Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah” (Psalm 9:19–20, ESV)
Psalm 9 closes with a bold prayer that God would “Arise!” He has proclaimed the truth of the matter, but now he calls on God to take action and put man in his place. “Man” (enosh) cannot prevail against God. Eventually, men must be put in fear of the Lord, that they knows they are but men. This is their only hope of redemption. Their fear of God is where wisdom will begin, if they will have it.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7, ESV)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27, ESV)