This is from my study this morning.

Proverbs 9:10 (New Living Translation)
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

My questions were: 1) What does fear mean in this context, and 2) what is wisdom?

The Hebrew word for fear is “yirah“. This version of our word ‘fear’ is only used 45 times in the Bible. It simply means reverence.

The Hebrew word for wisdom is “chokmah“. This version of our word ‘wisdom’ is used 149 times. It means wisdom, experience, shrewdness. 

Chokmah is the knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the opportune time.

A man or woman who, fears the Lord (has reverence for), and lives in line with God’s commands, would be described as an integrated person. They are literally integrating their life with God’s life. In seeking chokmah, the person’s life projects the fear of the Lord, and the blessings of God rest upon that person’s life.

(I personally believe this is why many “Christ-followers” get frustrated by not seeing God work in their life. They never truly surrender and fear the Lord.)

The fruits of chokmah are many. If you’re familiar with the New Testament, than the fruits of the Spirit are the same as the fruits of chokmah.

Galatians 5:22 (New Living Translation)
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

James 3:17-18 (New Living Translation)
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Put those two passages together, and it looks like this. 

In my own words:

Proverbs 9:10
Reverence for God is the beginning of a fruitful and good life.

And for those who are against the Message translation, Peterson hits the nail on the head when you account for the orginal Hebrew context.

In conclusion: the prerequisite for chokmah is reverence. The prerequisite for wisdom is the fear of the Lord.