1 Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man. 2 Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand: learn, ye that are judges of the ends of the earth. 3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations: 4 For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts: 5 Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God. 6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule. 7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented. 8 For God will not except any man’s person, neither will he stand in awe of any man’s greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all. 9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty. 10 To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it. 11 For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer. 12 Covet ye therefore my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction. 13 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her. 14 She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them. 15 He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door. 16 To think therefore upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure. 17 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence. 18 For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline. 19 And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption: 20 And incorruption bringeth near to God. 21 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom. 22 If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever. 23 Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples. 24 Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth: 25 Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom. 26 Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people. 27 Receive therefore instruction by my words, and it shall be profitable to you.
Wisdom of Solomon · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Wisdom of Solomon 6 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The apostle "desires to depart, and to be with Christ." And, "My soul desired to long for Thy judgments;" or if it is more appropriate to say, "My soul longed to desire Thy judgments." And, "The desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom." Yet there has always obtained the usage of understanding desire and concupiscence in a bad sense if …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
"For mighty" men (it is said) "shall be mightily tormented:" and "He that knew his Lord's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." So that more knowledge is a ground of more punishment.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Only let us open to Him our doors; for He goeth about seeking such as are worthy and searching on whom He may confer His gifts.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
And, therefore, Scripture does not say that the multitude of the eloquent, but "the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world." And as we must often swallow wholesome bitters, so we must always avoid unwholesome sweets.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)