Wisdom of Solomon · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 7 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 I myself also am mortal, like to all, And am sprung from one born of the earth, [the man ] first formed,
1 I myself am also mortal, like everyone else, and am a descendant of one formed first and born of the earth.
2 And in the womb of a mother was I moulded into flesh in the time of ten months, Being compacted in blood of the seed of man and pleasure that came with sleep.
2 I molded into flesh in the time of ten months in my mother’s womb, being compacted in blood from the seed of man and pleasure of marriage.
3 And I also, when I was born, drew in the common air, And fell upon the kindred earth, Uttering, like all, for my first voice, the selfsame wail:
3 I also, when I was born, drew in the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth, uttering, like all, for my first voice, the same cry.
4 In swaddling clothes was I nursed, and with [watchful ] cares.
4 I was nursed with care in swaddling clothes.
5 For no king had any other first beginning;
5 For no king had a different beginning,
6 But all men have one entrance into life, and a like departure.
6 but all men have one entrance into life, and a common departure.
7 For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon [God, ] and there came to me a spirit of wisdom.
7 For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given to me. I asked, and a spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, And riches I esteemed nothing in comparison of her.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones. I considered riches nothing in comparison to her.
9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, Because all the gold [of the earth ] in her presence is a little sand, And silver shall be accounted as clay before her.
9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold in her presence is a little sand, and silver will be considered as clay before her.
10 Above health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than light, Because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.
10 I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.
11 But with her there came to me all good things together, And in her hands innumerable riches:
11 All good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches are in her hands.
12 And I rejoiced over [them ] all because wisdom leadeth them; Though I knew not that she was the mother of them.
12 And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leads them; although I didn’t know that she was their mother.
13 As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging; I do not hide her riches.
13 As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging. I don’t hide her riches.
14 For she is unto men a treasure that faileth not, And they that use it obtain friendship with God, Commended [to him ] by the gifts which they through discipline present [to him. ]
14 For she is a treasure for men that doesn’t fail, and those who use it obtain friendship with God, commended by the gifts which they present through discipline.
15 But to me may God give to speak with judgement, And to conceive thoughts worthy of what hath been given [me; ] Because himself is one that guideth even wisdom and that correcteth the wise.
15 But may God grant that I may speak his judgment, and to conceive thoughts worthy of what has been given me; because he is one who guides even wisdom and who corrects the wise.
16 For in his hand are both we and our words; All understanding, and [all ] acquaintance with divers crafts.
16 For both we and our words are in his hand, with all understanding and skill in various crafts.
17 For himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, To know the constitution of the world, and the operation of the elements;
17 For he himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, to know the structure of the universe and the operation of the elements;
18 The beginning and end and middle of times, The alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons,
18 the beginning, end, and middle of times; the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons;
19 The circuits of years and the positions of stars;
19 the circuits of years and the positions of stars;
20 The natures of living creatures and the ragings of wild beasts, The violences of winds and the thoughts of men, The diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:
20 the natures of living creatures and the raging of wild beasts; the violence of winds and the thoughts of men; the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots.
21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,
21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,
22 For she that is the artificer of all things taught me, [even ] wisdom. For there is in her a spirit quick of understanding, holy, Alone in kind, manifold, Subtil, freely moving, Clear in utterance, unpolluted, Distinct, unharmed, Loving what is good, keen, unhindered,
22 for wisdom, that is the architect of all things, taught me. For there is in her a spirit that is quick to understand, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, freely moving, clear in utterance, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving what is good, keen, unhindered,
23 Beneficent, loving toward man, Stedfast, sure, free from care, All-powerful, all-surveying, And penetrating through all spirits That are quick of understanding, pure, most subtil:
23 beneficent, loving toward man, steadfast, sure, free from care, all-powerful, all-surveying, and penetrating through all spirits that are quick to understand, pure, most subtle.
24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; Yea, she pervadeth and penetrateth all things by reason of her pureness.
24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion. Yes, she pervades and penetrates all things by reason of her purity.
25 For she is a breath of the power of God, And a clear effluence of the glory of the Almighty; Therefore can nothing defiled find entrance into her.
25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty. Therefore nothing defiled can find entrance into her.
26 For she is an effulgence from everlasting light, And an unspotted mirror of the working of God, And an image of his goodness.
26 For she is a reflection of everlasting light, an unspotted mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.
27 And she, being one, hath power to do all things; And remaining in herself, reneweth all things: And from generation to generation passing into holy souls She maketh [men ] friends of God and prophets.
27 Although she is one, she has power to do all things. Remaining in herself, she renews all things. From generation to generation passing into holy souls, she makes friends of God and prophets.
28 For nothing doth God love save him that dwelleth with wisdom.
28 For God loves nothing as much as one who dwells with wisdom.
29 For she is fairer than the sun, And above all the constellations of the stars: Being compared with light, she is found [to be ] before it;
29 For she is fairer than the sun, and above all the constellations of the stars. She is better than light.
30 For to the light [of day ] succeedeth night, But against wisdom evil doth not prevail;
30 For daylight yields to night, but evil does not prevail against wisdom.
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).
In Holy Scripture, it is true, the Spirit of wisdom is called "manifold" because it contains many things in it; but what it contains it also is, and it being one is all these things.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… the Light of the World." Wisdom and Power, "Christ, the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God." The Effulgence, the Impress, the Image, the Seal; "Who being the Effulgence of His glory and the Impress of His Essence," and "the Image of His Goodness," and "Him hath God the Father sealed." Lord, King, He That Is, The Almighty.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… they address it may give ear; and when the discourse has a happy issue, they ought to render thanks to Him from whom they know such blessings come, so that all the praise may be His "in whose hand are both we and our words." Chapter 31 — Apology for the Length of the Work
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Whether you are to understand His sun as being not that which is visible to the fleshly eyes, but that wisdom of which it is said, "She is the brightness of the everlasting light;" of which it is also said, "The Sun of righteousness has arisen upon me;" and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)