1 [Hæc illum qui primus formatus est a Deo patre orbis terrarum, cum solus esset creatus, custodivit, 2 et eduxit illum a delicto suo, et dedit illi virtutem continendi omnia. 3 Ab hac ut recessit injustus in ira sua, per iram homicidii fraterni deperiit. 4 Propter quem cum aqua deleret terram, sanavit iterum sapientia, per contemptibile lignum justum gubernans. 5 Hæc et in consensu nequitiæ, cum se nationes contulissent, scivit justum, et conservavit sine querela Deo, et in filii misericordia fortem custodivit. 6 Hæc justum a pereuntibus impiis liberavit fugientem, descendente igne in Pentapolim: 7 quibus in testimonium nequitiæ fumigabunda constat deserta terra, et incerto tempore fructus habentes arbores: et incredibilis animæ memoria stans figmentum salis. 8 Sapientiam enim prætereuntes, non tantum in hoc lapsi sunt ut ignorarent bona, sed et insipientiæ suæ reliquerunt hominibus memoriam, ut in his quæ peccaverunt nec latere potuissent. 9 Sapientia autem hos qui se observant a doloribus liberavit. 10 Hæc profugum iræ fratris justum deduxit per vias rectas, et ostendit illi regnum Dei, et dedit illi scientiam sanctorum; honestavit illum in laboribus, et complevit labores illius. 11 In fraude circumvenientium illum affuit illi, et honestum fecit illum. 12 Custodivit illum ab inimicis, et a seductoribus tutavit illum: et certamen forte dedit illi ut vinceret, et sciret quoniam omnium potentior est sapientia. 13 Hæc venditum justum non dereliquit, sed a peccatoribus liberavit eum; descenditque cum illo in foveam, 14 et in vinculis non dereliquit illum, donec afferret illi sceptrum regni, et potentiam adversus eos qui eum deprimebant: et mendaces ostendit qui maculaverunt illum, et dedit illi claritatem æternam.] 15 [Hæc populum justum et semen sine querela liberavit a nationibus quæ illum deprimebant. 16 Intravit in animam servi Dei, et stetit contra reges horrendos in portentis et signis. 17 Et reddidit justis mercedem laborum suorum, et deduxit illos in via mirabili: et fuit illis in velamento diei, et in luce stellarum per noctem; 18 transtulit illos per mare Rubrum, et transvexit illos per aquam nimiam. 19 Inimicos autem illorum demersit in mare, et ab altitudine inferorum eduxit illos. Ideo justi tulerunt spolia impiorum, 20 et decantaverunt, Domine, nomen sanctum tuum, et victricem manum tuam laudaverunt pariter: 21 quoniam sapientia aperuit os mutorum, et linguas infantium fecit disertas.]
Wisdom of Solomon · Clementine Vulgate
Wisdom of Solomon 10 Clementine Vulgate
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 Emperor Julian, there was a law made by which Christians were forbidden to teach grammar and oratory, and he, in obedience to this law, chose rather to abandon the wordy school than Thy word, by which Thou makest eloquent the tongues of the dumb, --he appeared to me not more brave than happy, in having thus discovered an opportunity …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… disdained not to listen to him, but even admitted his opinion, and was persuaded, and recorded it; and was not ashamed to hand down the circumstances to history; casting down [so] the pride of the many. Wherefore also he left this story to the world engraven as it were on a pillar, for he knew that it would be useful …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)