Wisdom 6-9
New Catholic Bible
At the Source of Wisdom[a]
Seek and You Will Find
Chapter 6
A Rigorous Judgment Awaits the Mighty[b]
1 Listen, then, O kings, and try to comprehend;
learn, O judges of the whole earth.[c]
2 Pay attention, you who govern multitudes,
and take pride in the huge number of your peoples.
3 Your sovereignty was bestowed on you by the Lord
and your power by the Most High,
who will probe your deeds and scrutinize your intentions.[d]
4 Since as servants of his kingdom you neither ruled justly,
nor kept his law,
nor walked in the paths designated by the will of God,
5 he will move against you terribly and swiftly,
for stern is the judgment decreed against the high and the mighty.[e]
6 The lowly will be pardoned through mercy,
but the mighty will be tested with rigor.
7 For the Lord of all is not in awe of anyone,
nor does he show any deference to worldly rank,
since he himself made small and great alike,
and he provides for all equally.
8 But a strict examination awaits those in positions of power.
9 To you, then, O monarchs, are these words of mine directed
so that you may learn wisdom and not go astray.
10 For those who observe holy precepts with holiness will be accounted holy,
and those who have become learned in them will have a defense[f] to offer.
11 Therefore, be zealous in heeding my words;
long for them, and you will receive instruction.
Wisdom Is Seated at the Door of Those Who Love Her[g]
12 Radiant and never-fading is Wisdom;
she is easily discerned by those who love her
and is found by those who search for her.
13 She hastens to make herself known
to those who desire her.[h]
14 He who rises early to seek her will not have to toil,
for he will discover her seated at his door.
15 To meditate on her is to achieve perfection in understanding,
and he who is vigilant in seeking after her will soon be free from care.
16 For she herself goes about seeking those who are worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them as they tread life’s paths,
meeting them with all benevolence.
17 The beginning of Wisdom is a sincere desire for instruction,
and concern for learning is evidence of love for her;
18 but love for her is shown by keeping her laws,
and observing her laws brings the assurance of incorruptibility.
19 Now incorruptibility brings people close to God;
20 thus the desire for Wisdom leads to a kingdom.
21 Therefore, if you take delight in thrones and scepters, you rulers of the peoples,
honor Wisdom so that you may reign as kings forever.[i]
Wisdom Is Not the Exclusive Possession of the Initiated[j]
22 Now I will explain what Wisdom is and how she came to be;
I will not hide her secrets from you.
I will trace her steps from the beginning of creation
and bring knowledge of her to full light
without swerving from the truth.
23 Nor will I allow corrosive envy to accompany me,
for it has nothing in common with Wisdom.
24 The abundance of the wise is the salvation of the world,
and a prudent king is the stability of his people.
25 Therefore, learn what I have to teach you,
and you will profit.
Chapter 7
1 I too am mortal, like everyone else,
descended from the first being formed out of the earth.[k]
I was molded into flesh inside the womb of my mother,
2 solidified in blood within a period of ten months[l]
from the seed of a man and the pleasure that accompanies marriage.
3 And I too, when I was born, began to breathe the common air
and fell upon an earth equal for everyone;
the first sound I uttered was a cry, as is true of all.
4 I was nurtured in swaddling clothes
and surrounded with care.
5 No king has begun life in any other way,
6 for there is only one way of entering life, and only one way of leaving it.
Wisdom Is Worth More than Any Riches
7 Therefore, I prayed, and understanding was given to me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her to scepters and thrones,
and I accounted riches as nothing compared with her.[m]
9 Neither did I reckon any precious stone to be her equal,
because, compared with her, all gold is but a few grains of sand,
and beside her, silver is accounted as clay.
10 I loved her more than health and beauty
and preferred her to the light
because her radiance is unceasing.
11 Together with her, all good things came to me,
and in her hands are countless riches.
12 And I delighted in them all, since Wisdom was their source,
although I did not realize at the time that she was their mother.
13 I pass on ungrudgingly what I learned about her with an open mind;
her riches I do not conceal.
14 For she is an inexhaustible treasure for all;
those who acquire her achieve friendship with God,
commended to him by the gifts that derive from her instruction.[n]
Wisdom Is Divine
Maker of All Things[o]
15 May God grant me the ability to speak according to understanding
and to express thoughts worthy of the gifts I have received,
since it is he that guides Wisdom
and directs the wise.
16 For in his hand are both we and our words,
as are also all understanding and skill in crafts.
17 It was he who granted me accurate knowledge of what exists,
so that I might understand the constitution of the world and the operation of its elements:
18 the beginning and the end and the midpoint of times,
the alternation of the solstices and the changes of the seasons,
19 the cycles of the year and the positions of the stars,
20 the natures of animals and the dispositions of wild beasts,
the powers of spirits and the thoughts of men,
the varieties of plants and the properties of roots.
21 All that was hidden and all that was manifest I learned,
22 for Wisdom, who fashioned all things, instructed me.
Reflection of God’s Light[p]
[q]Within Wisdom is a spirit that is
intelligent, holy,
unique, manifold, subtle,
mobile, clear, unstained,
certain, invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd, irresistible, beneficent, 23 kindly,
steadfast, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-surveying,
and penetrating all spirits
that are intelligent, pure, and very subtle.
24 For Wisdom has more mobility than any motion;
she is so pure that she pervades and penetrates all things.
25 She is the breath of the might of God
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore, nothing that is defiled can enter into her.
26 For she is the reflection of eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the active power of God
and the image of his goodness.
27 Although she is only one, she can do all things;
while unchanging herself, she makes all things new.
Generation after generation she enters into holy souls,
and turns them into friends of God[r] and prophets.
28 For God loves nothing more
than one who dwells with Wisdom.
29 She is more beautiful than the sun
and outshines every constellation of the stars.
In comparison with the light she is far superior,
30 for light is supplanted by the night,
but evil cannot overpower Wisdom.
Chapter 8
1 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she governs all things exceedingly well.
A Companion in Life[s]
2 I loved Wisdom and searched for her from my youth;
I resolved to have her for my spouse
and was in love with her beauty.
3 She manifests her noble birth by union of life with God,
for the Lord of all has loved her.
4 She is privy to the secrets of the knowledge of God
and chooses his works.
5 If riches are deemed a desirable possession in life,
what offers greater wealth than Wisdom who fashions everything that exists?
6 If understanding is at work,
who is a more effective fashioner of whatever exists than she?
7 And if one prizes righteousness,
the fruits of her labors are virtues.
For she teaches temperance and prudence,
justice and fortitude,[t]
and nothing in life is of more value for men than these.
8 Or again, if one yearns for great experience,
she knows the things of the past and foresees those of the future.
She understands the subtleties of speech and the solutions of riddles;
she has advance knowledge of signs and wonders
and can predict the outcome of times and ages.
9 And so I determined to take her as my life companion,
confident that she would counsel me in times of prosperity
and comfort me in times of anxiety and sorrow.
10 Because of her presence I will receive glory among the multitudes
and honor among the elders, even though I am young.
11 I will be considered wise when I sit in judgment,
and I will win the admiration of rulers.
12 When I remain silent, they will await my utterances;
when I do speak, they will listen carefully.
And should I speak at great length,
they will put their hands over their mouths.[u]
13 Through her I will achieve immortality
and leave an everlasting memory to my successors.
14 I will govern peoples, and nations will become subject to me;
15 fierce monarchs will be in dread when they hear my name,
but among the people I will be regarded as good and as valiant in battle.
16 When I return to my home I will rest beside her,
for to be in her company involves no bitterness,
and life with her entails no pain,
but only gladness and joy.
Lord, Send Forth Your Wisdom[v]
17 Reflecting upon these things within myself
and having concluded in my heart
that there is immortality in kinship with Wisdom
18 and pure delight in friendship with her,
inexhaustible wealth in the works of her hands
and understanding in frequenting her company
as well as great renown in conversing with her,
I began to search in all directions,
seeking to win her for myself.
19 As a child I was blessed with natural gifts,
and a good soul was my heritage,
20 or rather, being good, I had entered into an undefiled body.[w]
21 But realizing that I could not possess Wisdom[x] unless God gave her to me—
and this itself was an indication of understanding, to know the source of that gift—
I turned to the Lord and implored him
and with all my heart I said:
Chapter 9
1 “God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
by your word[y] you have created all things,
2 and in your wisdom you have fashioned man
to have power over all the creatures you have made,
3 to govern the world in holiness and righteousness,
and to mete out justice with an upright heart.
4 Grant me Wisdom, who sits beside your throne,[z]
and do not exclude me from the number of your children.
5 “For I am your servant and the son of your handmaid,
a weak man with but a short time to live
and with meager comprehension of justice and law.
6 Indeed, even one who is perfect among the sons of men
will be of no account
if he lacks the Wisdom that comes from you.
7 You have chosen me to be king of your people
and to sit in judgment over your sons and daughters.
8 You have commanded me to build a temple on your holy mountain,
and an altar in the city that is your dwelling,
a replica of the sacred tabernacle that you prepared from the beginning.[aa]
9 With you is Wisdom, who knows your works
and was present when you created the world.
She understands what is pleasing in your eyes
and what is in conformity with your commandments.
10 “Send her forth from your holy heavens,
and dispatch her from the throne of your glory,
so that she may labor at my side
and I may learn what is pleasing to you.
11 For she knows and understands all things,
and with prudence she will guide me in my deeds
and guard me with her splendor.
12 Then will my works be acceptable to you,
and I will judge your people uprightly
and be worthy of the throne of my father.
13 “What person can have knowledge of the counsel of God,
or who can discern what the will of the Lord is?
14 The reasonings of mortals are faulty
and our reflections are unstable.
15 For a perishable body burdens the soul,
and its earthly tent[ab] weighs down the mind filled with many cares.
16 With difficulty do we assess what is on earth,
and that which is within our reach we discover only after arduous labor;
who then can seek out the things of heaven?
17 Who could ever have known your counsel if you had not given Wisdom
and sent your Holy Spirit from on high?
18 And thus the paths of those on earth were straightened,
and men were taught what pleases you
and were saved by Wisdom.”
Footnotes
- Wisdom 6:1 A mysterious force animates the conduct of the righteous and opens to them the hope of immortality: this is Wisdom. It cannot come simply from this earth and result solely from human effort; it finds its origins beyond these horizons—and comes from heaven. To make it accepted, the author ably presents his own experience and reflection (chs. 6–9) as sentiments of Solomon, the wise man beyond compare.
- Wisdom 6:1 This text places all on guard against the abuse of their power, their prestige, and their state. Who in their own way are not tempted to be high and mighty? Let them learn to serve and to live under the judgment of God who is righteous.
- Wisdom 6:1 The Vulgate adds these words as verse 1 of this chapter: “Wisdom is better than strength, / and the prudent man is better than the mighty.” This necessitates a change in the enumeration of all the verses of the chapter.
- Wisdom 6:3 The ancient East regarded the person and authority of the king to be of divine origin. All authority is delegated (see Dan 5:18-20; Jn 19:11).
- Wisdom 6:5 God’s punishment of wrongdoing was felt by Moses (Num 20:12), David (2 Sam 24:10-17), and Hezekiah (2 Ki 20:16-19), among others.
- Wisdom 6:10 Defense: see Job 31:14; Prov 22:21; Sir 8:9; Hab 2:1.
- Wisdom 6:12 When we truly desire the force of life that is Wisdom, she comes before us. For our author, it is the intimate invitation that reaches all human beings in the secret of the heart. It is neither a legalism nor an annoying moralism imposed from outside, but an inner transformation, which becomes the hope of immortality.
- Wisdom 6:13 Wisdom, like God himself, always takes the initiative. In this way, she foreshadows God’s prevenient grace (see Jn 6:44-46; 10:25-27; Phil 2:13; 1 Jn 4:19).
- Wisdom 6:21 The Vulgate adds here: “Love the light of Wisdom, all you who govern nations,” which in its numbering scheme becomes verse 23.
- Wisdom 6:22 Not even Solomon, despite all his renown, had a monopoly on the gift from heaven that is Wisdom. All who share the human condition have need of her; she is a conviction that becomes contagious to transform the world, and no one has the right to make her his own preserve.
- Wisdom 7:1 The author consistently fails to name the persons of sacred history to whom he refers. See, for example, chapter 10. The author here notes that a king is only a mere mortal—a Jewish conception that was foreign to the ancient East and, in part, also to the Greek world, which divinized its sovereigns. The purity of the Jewish monotheism imposed this view, which is counterbalanced by the certitude that Wisdom—which is a divine gift—is necessary in order to rule well.
- Wisdom 7:2 Ten months: this refers to “lunar” months, the common method of calculation among the ancients.
- Wisdom 7:8 Nothing can be compared with Wisdom, and she is acquired only at a very great price. It is the same for the kingdom of heaven, the pearl of great price, the hidden treasure (see Mt 13:44-46).
- Wisdom 7:14 Instruction: the same as “discipline” (see note on Wis 1:5).
- Wisdom 7:15 Wisdom is not merely conduct of life but also awe before the secrets of the visible and invisible universe. Here the author attributes to Solomon—famous for his knowledge (see 1 Ki 5:9-14)—the most recent acquisitions of Hellenistic thought about the universe.
- Wisdom 7:22 Scholars will recognize herein the questions and the vocabulary of Greek philosophers, astounded by the inexhaustible mystery of the human conscience. But our author goes so far as to admire the source that gives rise to the spiritual condition of human beings—which is divine.
In this description of Wisdom, the reflection is oriented toward a new understanding of the divine mystery: the New Testament would eventually reveal the existence in God of the personality and action of the Holy Spirit, and above all, of the Son, image of the Father and creative Word (Jn 1; Rom 8; Col 1:15). Subsequently, Christian tradition has almost always recognized in Wisdom (Greek, sophia) the second Person of the Trinity. - Wisdom 7:22 The attributes given for Wisdom are twenty-one in all, which constitutes a most perfect number (three times seven).
- Wisdom 7:27 Friends of God: like Abraham (see 2 Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23; see also Jn 15:14-15).
- Wisdom 8:2 Wisdom is, for our author, a word and a symbol that evokes the supreme goods of private and public life. Certainly, his mentality and his vocabulary appear to us to be poetic speculations very far from our way of saying things, yet these pages are precious to us. They guard us from shutting ourselves up within the limits of what we know, what we can do, and what we have. There is for human beings a greater horizon that breaches the threshold of the divine. Those who claim to master science are well advised to reflect on this.
- Wisdom 8:7 The four cardinal virtues. They are already found in Plato and Aristotle.
- Wisdom 8:12 Onlookers will put their hands over their mouths as a sign that there is nothing to refute and nothing to add (see Job 21:5; 29:9; 40:4; Prov 30:32; Sir 5:14; Mic 7:16).
- Wisdom 8:17 The author attributes to the young Solomon this fervent and wonderful prayer (see 1 Ki 3:6-9; 2 Chr 1:8-10), which takes up again, with the charm of a humble petition to God, themes already repeatedly developed. The sage is free to read the “signs of the times,” to seek out in all events and circumstances what God expects from humans.
- Wisdom 8:20 The author does not intend to affirm that the soul exists first; rather, he corrects the impression given by the preceding verse that the body has preeminence.
- Wisdom 8:21 I could not possess Wisdom: this is the preferred reading; the Vulgate translated it as: “I could not be chaste.”
- Wisdom 9:1 Your word: i.e., God’s creative Word (see Gen 1), a concept that is like a prelude for the revelation of the Word of God, Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1-14).
- Wisdom 9:4 Wisdom, who sits beside your throne: it is from there that the word of judgment will be launched against Egypt (see Wis 18:15). God is conceived as a sovereign who, from his throne, creates the universe, governs and judges it; his Wisdom conceives and executes.
- Wisdom 9:8 The temple was built according to the model of the tabernacle that God had Moses construct in the image that he showed him at Sinai (Ex 25:9, 40; 26:30), which—according to a Jewish tradition—had existed from the beginning of creation.
- Wisdom 9:15 Earthly tent: our spirit, because it is incarnated, is limited in the knowledge of things. The images of the “body subject to corruption” and the “earthly tent” are dear to Paul (see 2 Cor 4:7; 5:1-4). The fact that the body constitutes a burden for human beings does not mean that the flesh is evil.
