The book of Proverbs depicts wisdom as a woman. Proverbs 1:20 says, "she raises her voice in the public square." 

Now, if you're a man reading this, you're naturally asking the question, "Why would Solomon depict wisdom as a woman?"

If you're a woman reading this, you're probably thinking, "It's obvious." 

Either way, it's an interesting question. And while women might be able to make the case that they are wiser than men, Solomon's primary audience is a group of young men. In the first few chapters, he repeatedly addresses his audience as "my son." Some scholars speculate that Solomon was writing to a school of young men and addressed them all as "my son." 

Young men are known for having an eager attraction to young women. And when there is a lack of maturity to accompany that attraction, it can get them into trouble. Therefore, Solomon depicts wisdom as a woman encouraging these young men to pursue wisdom before all other pursuits. 

But the point he's making in Proverbs 1:20 isn't so much that wisdom is a woman, but that wisdom is readily available to all who are seeking it. He writes, "Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech” (v20-21). 

The image Solomon gives of wisdom isn't just that she is present, but that she is crying out. She is standing on top of a large wall that would have surrounded an ancient city, crying out to anyone who would listen. He says that wisdom isn't only available to the elite, the privileged, or a select few. But it's available to anyone who is seeking her.

The rest of chapter 1 is wisdom's "speech" that's referenced in v21. The majority of her speech is a rebuke, specifically, to those who hear her but choose to disregard her. When she is ignored, the end result is destruction.

Essentially, she is saying their destruction is due to their own making. And at some point, it might be too late to make a course correction. 

Therefore, if we want to become wise, and wisdom is readily available, we have to ask the question, "Are we seeking it or disregarding it?" 

What is an area of your life where you need wisdom? If wisdom is calling out to you, are you listening?