1 [Melior est sapientia quam vires, et vir prudens quam fortis. 2 Audite ergo, reges, et intelligite; discite, judices finium terræ. 3 Præbete aures, vos qui continetis multitudines, et placetis vobis in turbis nationum. 4 Quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis, et virtus ab Altissimo: qui interrogabit opera vestra, et cogitationes scrutabitur. 5 Quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte judicastis, nec custodistis legem justitiæ, neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis. 6 Horrende et cito apparebit vobis, quoniam judicium durissimum his qui præsunt fiet. 7 Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia; potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur. 8 Non enim subtrahet personam cujusquam Deus, nec verebitur magnitudinem ejus cujusquam, quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et æqualiter cura est illi de omnibus. 9 Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio. 10 Ad vos ergo, reges, sunt hi sermones mei: ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis. 11 Qui enim custodierint justa juste, justificabuntur; et qui didicerint ista, invenient quid respondeant. 12 Concupiscite ergo sermones meos; diligite illos, et habebitis disciplinam. 13 Clara est, et quæ numquam marcescit, sapientia: et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam, et invenitur ab his qui quærunt illam. 14 Præoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat. 15 Qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam non laborabit; assidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet. 16 Cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus, et qui vigilaverit propter illam cito securus erit. 17 Quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quærens, et in viis ostendit se hilariter, et in omni providentia occurrit illis. 18 Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinæ concupiscentia. 19 Cura ergo disciplinæ dilectio est, et dilectio custodia legum illius est; custoditio autem legum consummatio incorruptionis est; 20 incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo. 21 Concupiscentia itaque sapientiæ deducit ad regnum perpetuum. 22 Si ergo delectamini sedibus et sceptris, o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis: 23 diligite lumen sapientiæ, omnes qui præestis populis.] 24 [Quid est autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facta sit, referam, et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei: sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo, et ponam in lucem scientiam illius, et non præteribo veritatem. 25 Neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo, quoniam talis homo non erit particeps sapientiæ. 26 Multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum, et rex sapiens stabilimentum populi est. 27 Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.]
Wisdom of Solomon · Clementine Vulgate
Wisdom of Solomon 6 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 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)