The path connecting Chokmah (Wisdom) with Kether (Crown) is associated with the Fool tarot card. The image on the fool tarot card is of a young confident man, experiencing life, but not paying attention to where he is going. He smells the roses, enjoys the warmth of the sun, the companionship and adoration of his pet, but he does not realize he is only one step away from death.

Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

In the parable of the rich man with plenty, the person believed he had more than what he needed in life, but he did not realize how fleeting life was. He believed he was secure because of his material things, but the material wealth obtained in this world cannot be taken with you into the next. Life is compared to a vapor or a shadow; it is temporary and fleeting – therefore we should use are time on earth wisely, and not squander it as fools. Our focus should be on serving God, and storing up treasures for ourselves in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The path connecting Chokmah and Kether is at the top of the Pillar of Mercy – the fool has been exposed to mercy and wisdom, but is not progressing in his journey with understanding. The four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water) are present on the card, but the fool is too self-absorbed to notice them (the snow covered mountains represent water, the cliff is earth, the air is what the fool seems to be taking a deep breath of, and the sun represents fire).

The Fool card is often contrasted with the Magician card. The fool has the elements of life, but he is doing nothing with them. He is only focused on himself, and what he can get out of life. In contrast, the Magician card is the path connecting Understanding and the Crown. The Magician serves as a conduit of God, and uses the resources God has blessed him with to help others. The Magician understands God and his purpose in life, whereas the Fool only seeks the desires of his own heart.

Proverbs 18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

The Fool is not interested in gaining understanding of the wisdom he has been exposed to. He only wants to discover things about himself. If he had taken the first steps towards receiving forgiveness at the Pillar of Mercy, he has not learned from what he was taught. His present course will not lead him to the Crown of Life, because he is neglecting many aspects of his spiritual journey (such as loving others as much as he loves himself).

Proverbs 1:6-8 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

An unfortunate aspect of youth is that the young often believe they possess all of the answers. Even when given sage advice from parents, or being exposed to the truth of the scriptures, naïve/foolish youth may opt to trust in their own knowledge.

Proverbs 28:25-27 The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper. Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

Matthew 19:21-22 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Those who trust in themselves are fools. Fools focus on the material wealth of this life, as if that were the meaning/purpose of their existence. However, it is through works and deeds that they make themselves useful to their fellow man – that they might serve God, by serving others. What is considered wisdom on earth is considered foolishness to God.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

The measure of wisdom is defined erroneously by humans, and those who are wise in their own eyes are considered fools by God. This is true of many intellectual endeavors. Occultists will invest years of their lives researching manmade doctrines that are complete nonsense, and those in academia are often the first to believe they have become too smart to believe in God.

Psalm 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Fools may become so convinced of their own wisdom that the belief in God seems foolish to them. The further away from God that they go, the less capable they are of ever gaining understanding, because the wisdom of God is spiritually discerned. While lacking spiritual discernment, the self-professed wise men of this world are nothing more than blind leaders of the blind, who will lead themselves to their own destruction. Jesus taught to let such people alone (Matthew 15:14), and not to cast your perils before swine (Matthew 7:6) or rebuke a scoffer (Proverbs 9:8).

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.

The fool trusts in his own understanding, and is wise in his own eyes. But his path leads to death. The prudent trust in the Lord, and allow Him to direct their paths. Those who walk wisely will be delivered, but the foolish will march to their own destruction.

Proverbs 14:7-9 Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Proverbs 13:19-20 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

The prudent use caution in regards to those they associate with. The wise give thought to their ways, but fools deceive themselves into believing their actions are acceptable. The wise understand the importance of goodwill towards others, but the foolish refuse to apologize for their sins – believing they are all that matters.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Fools are self-absorbed and are not concerned with others. Though God’s presence is all around them, they cannot see past themselves. The secret to life – which the truly wise understand – is that life is not ultimately about them. It is about God. The material wealth obtained in this world is not what people should glory about. What is truly praiseworthy is gaining an understanding of God, and having a personal relationship with Him. Such a treasure can be taken with you into the next world.

Proverbs 14:16-18 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Those who truly obtain wisdom, fear and respect God (Proverbs 8:12-13). They depart from evil and live righteously – with judgment and loving-kindness. Fools continue on confidently, and lead themselves to their own demise.

The fool – on this path of the Qabalah – represents an individual who has received all of the blessings from the Pillar of Mercy, and now confidently marches towards the Crown of Life; yet the fool has not yet obtained mastery over the concepts he has been exposed to. The Fool believes that everything that has taken place so far was done solely for his benefit, and lacks the spiritual insight to understand the bigger picture. The fool may start to see God’s blessing in his life, but he has not yet understood that he was given a blessing in order to be a blessing (to others).

God has not simply given the fool plenty so that he can live in excess (Luke 12:16-21), but has provided him with gifts to be shared with others (1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:6-11, 1 Corinthians 7:7). The fool may have understood the need for faith, but faith without works is dead (James 2:17-18). People are saved through God’s grace, but they are still expected to have works (and live a life pleasing to God). When Jesus evaluates the churches in the Book of Revelations, the first thing He says to the churches is, “I know thy works” (Revelations 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15).