Wisdom - Revised Standard Version (1966)

The Book of Wisdom was written about a hundred years before the coming of Christ. Its author, whose name is not known to us, was a member of the Jewish community at Alexandria, in Egypt. He wrote in Greek, in a style patterned on that of Hebrew verse. At times he speaks in the person of Solomon, placing his teachings on the lips of the wise king of Hebrew tradition in order to emphasize their value. His profound knowledge of the earlier Old Testament writings is reflected in almost every line of the book, and marks him, like Ben Sira, as an outstanding representative of religious devotion and learning among the sages of postexilic Judaism. - The primary purpose of the sacred author was the edification of his co-religionists in a time when they had experienced suffering and oppression, in part at least at the hands of apostate fellow Jews. To convey his message he made use of the most popular religious themes of his time, namely the splendor and worth of divine wisdom (Wisdom 6:22-11:1), the glorious events of the Exodus (Wisdom 11:2-16; 12:23-27; 15:18 19:22), God's mercy (Wisdom 11:17-12:22), the folly of idolatry (Wisdom 13:1-15:17), and the manner in which God's justice is vindicated in rewarding or punishing the individual soul (Wisdom 1:1-6:21). The first ten chapters especially form a preparation for the fuller teachings of Christ and his Church. Many passages from this section of the book, notably Wisdom 3:1-8, are used by the Church in her liturgy. - The principal divisions of the Book of Wisdom are: I. Reward of Justice (Wisdom 1:1-6:21) II. Praise of Wisdom by Solomon (Wisdom 6:22-11:1) III. Special Providence of God during the Exodus (Wisdom 11:2-16; 12:23-27; 15:18-19:22) with digressions on God's mercy (Wisdom 11:17-12:22) and on the folly and shame of idolatry (Wisdom 13:1-15:17) - (NAB)

Headings

THE WISDOM OF SALOMON 1 Exhortation to Uprightness Life as the Ungodly See It 2 Error of the Wicked 3 The Destiny of the Righteous The Destiny of the Ungodly On Childlessness 4 The Triumph of the Righteous The Final Judgment 5 The Reward of the Righteous 6 Kings Should Seek Wisdom Description of Wisdom 7 Solomon Like Other Mortals Solomon's Respect for Wisdom Solomon Prays for Wisdom The Nature of Wisdom 8 Solomon's Love for Wisdom Wisdom Indispensible to Rulers 9 Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom 10 The Work of Wisdom from Adam to Moses Wisdom Led the Israelites out of Egypt 11 Wisdom Led the Israelites through the Desert Punishment of the Wicked God Is Powerful and Merciful 12 The Sins of the Canaanites God Is Sovereign God's Lessons for Israel The Punishment of the Egyptians 13 The Foolishness of Nature Worship The Foolishness of Idolatry 14 Folly of a Navigator Praying to an Idol The Origin and Evils of Idolatry 15 Benefits of Worshiping the True God The Foolishness of Worshiping Clay Idols Serpents in the Desert 16 Disastrous Storms Strike Egypt The Israelites Receive Manna 17 Terror Strikes the Egyptians at Night 18 Light Shines on the Israelites The Death of the Egyptian Firstborn Threat of Annihilation in the Desert 19 The Red Sea God Guides and Protects His People The Punishment of the Egyptians A New Harmony in Nature Conclusion

Version

Nova Vulgata - Latin Biblia del Pueblo di Dio (BPD) - Spanish Vulgata - Stuttgart 1969 - Latin Bíblia Sagrada Ave-Maria (1957) - Portuguese La Sainte Bible (Crampon 1904) - French CEI (1974) - Italian EinheitsÜbersetzung der Heiligen Sc - German