Wisdom of Solomon · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 4 Revised Version with Apocrypha
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.
1 It is better to be childless with virtue, for immortality is in the memory of virtue, because it is recognized 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.
2 When it is present, people imitate it. They long after it when it has departed. Throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph, victorious in the competition 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.
3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly will be of no profit, and their illegitimate offshoots won’t take deep root, nor will 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.
4 For even if they grow branches and flourish for a season, standing unsure, they will be shaken by the wind. They will be uprooted by the violence of winds.
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.
5 Their branches will be broken off before they come to maturity. Their fruit will 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.
6 For unlawfully conceived children are witnesses of wickedness against parents when they are investigated.
7 But a righteous man, though he die before his time, shall be at rest.
7 But a righteous man, even if he dies before his time, will 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:
8 For honorable old age is not that which stands 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.)
9 but understanding is gray hair to 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:
10 Being found well-pleasing to God, someone was loved. While living among sinners he was transported.
11 He was caught away, lest wickedness should change his understanding, Or guile deceive his soul.
11 He was caught away, lest evil 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.)
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures the things which are good, and the whirl of desire perverts an innocent mind.
13 Being made perfect in a little while, he fulfilled long years;
13 Being made perfect quickly, he filled a long time;
14 For his soul was pleasing unto the Lord: Therefore hasted he out of the midst of wickedness.
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. Therefore he hurried 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:-
15 But the peoples saw and didn’t understand, not considering this, that grace and mercy are with his chosen, and that he visits 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;
16 but a righteous man who is dead will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth who is quickly perfected will condemn 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:-
17 For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, and won’t understand what the Lord planned for him, and why 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:
18 They will see, and they will despise; but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this, they will become a dishonored carcass and a reproach among the dead forever;
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.
19 because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and will shake them from the foundations. They will lie utterly waste. They will be in anguish and their memory will perish.
20 They shall come, when their sins are reckoned up, with coward fear; And their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.
20 They will come with coward fear when their sins are counted. Their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.
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)