1 Better [than this ] is childishness with virtue; For in the memory of virtue is immortality: Because it is recognised both before God and before men. 2 When it is present, [men ] imitate it; And they long after it when it is departed: And throughout all time it marcheth crowned in triumph, Victorious in the strife for the prizes that are undefiled. 3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall be of no profit, And with bastard slips they shall not strike deep root, Nor shall they establish a sure hold. 4 For even if these put forth boughs and flourish for a season, [Yet, ] standing unsure, they shall be shaken by the wind, And by the violence of winds they shall be rooted out. 5 [Their ] branches shall be broken off before they come to maturity, and their fruit [shall be ] useless, Never ripe to eat, and fit for nothing. 6 For children unlawfully begotten are witnesses of wickedness Against parents when [God ] searcheth them out. 7 But a righteous man, though he die before his time, shall be at rest. 8 (For honourable old age is not that which standeth in length of time, Nor is its measure given by number of years: 9 But understanding is gray hairs unto men, And an unspotted life is ripe old age.) 10 Being found well-pleasing unto God he was beloved [of him, ] And while living among sinners he was translated: 11 He was caught away, lest wickedness should change his understanding, Or guile deceive his soul. 12 (For the bewitching of naughtiness bedimmeth the things which are good, And the giddy whirl of desire perverteth an innocent mind.) 13 Being made perfect in a little while, he fulfilled long years; 14 For his soul was pleasing unto the Lord: Therefore hasted he out of the midst of wickedness. 15 But as for the peoples, seeing and understanding not, Neither laying this to heart, That grace and mercy are with his chosen, And that he visiteth his holy ones:- 16 But a righteous man that is dead shall condemn the ungodly that are living, And youth that is quickly perfected the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age; 17 For [the ungodly ] shall see a wise man’s end, And shall not understand what the Lord purposed concerning him, And for what he safely kept him:- 18 They shall see, and they shall despise; But them the Lord shall laugh to scorn. And after this they shall become a dishonoured carcase, And a reproach among the dead for ever: 19 Because he shall dash them speechless to the ground, And shall shake them from the foundations, And they shall lie utterly waste, and they shall be in anguish, And their memory shall perish. 20 They shall come, when their sins are reckoned up, with coward fear; And their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.
Wisdom of Solomon · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 4 Revised Version with Apocrypha
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).
Of whom it was said before in Wisdom, "Their own iniquities shall convince them to their face." Without doubt they will see that they are justly condemned for their sins and wickednesses; yet it will be as though He said to them, "It is not in consequence of this that ye think, but because I was hungry, and ye gave …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
What if "he was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding." But he was a sinner, thou sayest, and therefore I wished him to live, that he might be corrected.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Now God grants them the approach of a healthy shame, if they despise not the medicine of confession: but if they will not now be ashamed, then they shall be ashamed, when "their iniquities shall convince them to their face." How shall they be ashamed?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)