{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_8325/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_8325","id":"gutenberg_8325","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8325","summary":null,"tags":["Bible. Apocrypha. Wisdom of Solomon","Category: Philosophy & Ethics","Category: Poetry","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"This eBook was produced by David Widger\nfrom etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia\nand Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE HOLY BIBLE\n\n\n\n\nTranslated from the Latin Vulgate\n\n\nDiligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,\nand Other Editions in Divers Languages\n\n\nTHE OLD TESTAMENT\nFirst Published by the English College at Douay\nA.D. 1609 & 1610\n\nand\n\nTHE NEW TESTAMENT\nFirst Published by the English College at Rheims\nA.D. 1582\n\n\nWith Annotations\n\n\nThe Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with\nthe Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner\nA.D. 1749-1752\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE BOOK OF WISDOM\n\nThis Book is so called, because it treats of the excellence of WISDOM,\nthe means to obtain it, and the happy fruits it produces. It is written\nin the person of Solomon, and contains his sentiments. But it is\nuncertain who was the writer. It abounds with instructions and\nexhortations to kings and all magistrates to minister justice in the\ncommonwealth, teaching all kinds of virtues under the general names of\njustice and wisdom. It contains also many prophecies of Christ's coming,\npassion, resurrection, and other Christian mysteries. The whole may be\ndivided into three parts. In the first six chapters, the author\nadmonishes all superiors to love and exercise justice and wisdom. In the\nnext three, he teacheth that wisdom proceedeth only from God, and is\nprocured by prayer and a good life. In the other ten chapters, he\nsheweth the excellent effects and utility of wisdom and justice.\n\n\nWisdom Chapter 1\n\nAn exhortation to seek God sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and\ndesireth not our death.\n\n1:1. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the\nLord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart:\n\n1:2. For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself\nto them that have faith in him.\n\n1:3. For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is\ntried, reproveth the unwise:\n\n1:4. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a\nbody subject to sins.\n\n1:5. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and\nwill withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and\nhe shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.\n\n1:6. For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the\nevil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is a\ntrue searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.\n\n1:7. For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that\nwhich containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.\n\n1:8. Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither\nshall the chastising judgment pass him by.\n\n1:9. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly, and\nthe hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his\niniquities.\n\n1:10. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of\nmurmuring shall not be hid.\n\n1:11. Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth\nnothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech\nshall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.\n\n1:12. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye\ndestruction by the works of your hands.\n\n1:13. For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the\ndestruction of the living.\n\n1:14. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the\nnations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction\nin them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.\n\n1:15. For justice is perpetual and immortal.\n\n1:16. But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and\nesteeming it a friend, have fallen away and have made a covenant with\nit: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.\n\nWisdom Chapter 2\n\nThe vain reasonings of the wicked: their persecuting the just,\nespecially the Son of God.\n\n2:1. For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The\ntime of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is\nno remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell:\n\n2:2. For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we had\nnot been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a spark to\nmove our heart,\n\n2:3. Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall\nbe poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace\nof a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by\nthe beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof:\n\n2:4. And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any\nremembrance of our works.\n\n2:5. For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going\nback of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth:\n\n2:6. Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present,\nand let us speedily use the creatures as in youth.\n\n2:7. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not\nthe flower of the time pass by us.\n\n2:8. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no\nmeadow escape our riot.\n\n2:9. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us every where\nleave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot.\n\n2:10. Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor\nhonour the ancient grey hairs of the aged.\n\n2:11. But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is\nfeeble is found to be nothing worth.\n\n2:12. Let us, therefore, lie in wait for the just, because he is not for\nour turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with\ntransgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way\nof life.\n\n2:13. He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth himself\nthe son of God.\n\n2:14. He is become a censurer of our thoughts.\n\n2:15. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like\nother men's, and his ways are very different.\n\n2:16. We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our\nways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just,\nand glorieth that he hath God for his father.\n\n2:17. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall\nhappen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be.\n\n2:18. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will\ndeliver him from the hands of his enemies.\n\n2:19. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his\nmeekness, and try his patience.\n\n2:20. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be\nrespect had unto him by his words.\n\n2:21. These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice\nblinded them.\n\n2:22. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of\njustice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls.\n\n2:23. For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own\nlikeness he made him.\n\n2:24. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world:\n\n2:25. And they follow him that are of his side.\n\nWisdom Chapter 3\n\nThe happiness of the just: and the unhappiness of the wicked.\n\n3:1. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment\nof death shall not touch them.\n\n3:2. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure\nwas taken for misery:\n\n3:3. And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are\nin peace.\n\n3:4. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope\nis full of immortality.\n\n3:5. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded:\nbecause God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.\n\n3:6. As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a\nholocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had\nto them.\n\n3:7. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among\nthe reeds.\n\n3:8. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord\nshall reign for ever.\n\n3:9. They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that\nare faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his\nelect.\n\n3:10. But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices:\nwho have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord.\n\n3:11. For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and\ntheir hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works\nunprofitable.\n\n3:12. Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked.\n\n3:13. Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the\nundefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the\nvisitation of holy souls.\n\n3:14. And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor\nthought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith shall\nbe given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God.\n\n3:15. For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom\nnever faileth.\n\n3:16. But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and\nthe seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.\n\n3:17. And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their\nlast old age shall be without honour.\n\n3:18. And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of\ncomfort in the day of trial.\n\n3:19. For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race.\n\nWisdom Chapter 4\n\nThe difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations: and\nbetween the death of the just and the wicked.\n\n4:1. How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory\nthereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.\n\n4:2. When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it\nhath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the\nreward of undefiled conflicts.\n\n4:3. But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and\nbastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation.\n\n4:4. And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not fast,\nthey shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they\nshall be rooted out.\n\n4:5. For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their\nfruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing.\n\n4:6. For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of\nwickedness against their parents in their trial.\n\n4:7. But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest.\n\n4:8. For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the\nnumber of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs.\n\n4:9. And a spotless life is old age.\n\n4:10. He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was\ntranslated.\n\n4:11. He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding,\nor deceit beguile his soul.\n\n4:12. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the\nwandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind.\n\n4:13. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time.\n\n4:14. For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out\nof the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not,\nnor lay up such things in their hearts:\n\n4:15. That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that\nhe hath respect to his chosen.\n\n4:16. But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living,\nand youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.\n\n4:17. For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not\nunderstand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him\nin safety.\n\n4:18. They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall\nlaugh them to scorn.\n\n4:19. And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach\namong the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and\nspeechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall be\nutterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall\nperish.\n\n4:20. They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their\niniquities shall stand against them to convict them.\n\nWisdom Chapter 5\n\nThe fruitless repentance of the wicked in another world: the reward of\nthe just.\n\n5:1. Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that\nhave afflicted them, and taken away their labours.\n\n5:2. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be\namazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation,\n\n5:3. Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of\nspirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a\nparable of reproach.\n\n5:4. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour.\n\n\n5:5. Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their\nlot is among the saints.\n\n5:6. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of\njustice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not\nrisen upon us.\n\n5:7. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and\nhave walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not\nknown.\n\n5:8. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of\nriches brought us?\n\n5:9. All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post\nthat runneth on,\n\n5:10. And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is\ngone by, the trace cannot be found nor the path of its keel in the\nwaters:\n\n5:11. Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which\nno mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light\nair, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings, and\nhath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way:\n\n5:12. Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly\ncometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known:\n\n5:13. So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able\nto shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness.\n\n5:14. Such things as these the sinners said in hell:\n\n5:15. For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with\nthe wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a\nsmoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a\nguest of one day that passeth by.\n\n5:16. But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the\nLord, and the care of them with the most High.\n\n5:17. Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of\nbeauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover\nthem, and with his holy arm he will defend them.\n\n5:18. And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for\nthe revenge of his enemies.\n\n5:19. He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true\njudgment instead of a helmet:\n\n5:20. He will take equity for an invincible shield:\n\n5:21. And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole\nworld shall fight with him against the unwise.\n\n5:22. Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as\nfrom a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the mark.\n\n\n5:23. And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting\nwrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers\nshall run together in a terrible manner.\n\n5:24. A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind\nshall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a\ndesert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.\n\nWisdom Chapter 6\n\nAn address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by those\nthat seek her.\n\n6:1. Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a\nstrong man.\n\n6:2. Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are judges\nof the ends of the earth.\n\n6:3. Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in\nmultitudes of nations:\n\n6:4. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High,\nwho will examine your works: and search out your thoughts:\n\n6:6. Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged\nrightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will\nof God.\n\n6:6. Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe\njudgment shall be for them that bear rule.\n\n6:7. For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall\nbe mightily tormented.\n\n6:8. For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in\nawe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he\nhath equally care of all.\n\n6:9. But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.\n\n6:10. To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn\nwisdom, and not fall from it.\n\n6:11. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified:\nand they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.\n\n6:12. Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have\ninstruction.\n\n6:13. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by\nthem that love her, and is found by them that seek her.\n\n6:14. She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth\nherself unto them.\n\n6:15. He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall\nfind her sitting at his door.\n\n6:16. To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he\nthat watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.\n\n6:17. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she\nsheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with\nall providence.\n\n6:18. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.\n\n6:19. And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her\nlaws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of\nincorruption:\n\n6:20. And incorruption bringeth near to God.\n\n6:21. Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting\nkingdom.\n\n6:22. If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of\nthe people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.\n\n6:23. Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.\n\n6:24. Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I\nwill not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from\nthe beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and\nwill not pass over the truth:\n\n6:25. Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be\npartaker of wisdom.\n\n6:26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world:\nand a wise king is the upholding of the people.\n\n6:27. Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be\nprofitable to you.\n\nWisdom Chapter 7\n\nThe excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.\n\n7:1. I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him,\nthat was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was\nfashioned to be flesh.\n\n7:2. In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of\nman, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.\n\n7:3. And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth,\nthat is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as\nall others do.\n\n7:4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.\n\n7:5. For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.\n\n7:6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.\n\n7:7. Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called\nupon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:\n\n7:8. And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed\nriches nothing in comparison of her.\n\n7:9. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, in\ncomparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to her,\nshall be counted as clay.\n\n7:10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead\nof light: for her light cannot be put out.\n\n7:11. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable\nriches through her hands,\n\n7:12. And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I\nknew not that she was the mother of them all.\n\n7:13. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy,\nand her riches I hide not.\n\n7:14. For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use,\nbecome the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.\n\n7:15. And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive\nthoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the\nguide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:\n\n7:16. For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and\nthe knowledge and skill of works.\n\n7:17. For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to\nknow the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the\nelements,\n\n7:18. The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations\nof their courses, and the changes of seasons,\n\n7:19. The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,\n\n7:20. The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the\nforce of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and\nthe virtues of roots,\n\n7:21. And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned:\nfor wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.\n\n7:22. For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold,\nsubtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is\ngood, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,\n\n7:23. Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power,\noverseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure,\nsubtile:\n\n7:24. For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth\neverywhere, by reason of her purity.\n\n7:25. For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure\nemmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled\nthing cometh into her.\n\n7:26. For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted\nmirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.\n\n7:27. And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself\nthe same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself\ninto holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.\n\n7:28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.\n\n7:29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of\nthe stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.\n\n7:30. For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.\n\nWisdom Chapter 8\n\nFurther praises of wisdom: and her fruits.\n\n8:1. She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth all\nthings sweetly.\n\n8:2. Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have\ndesired to take for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.\n\n8:3. She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and\nthe Lord of all things hath loved her.\n\n8:4. For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God and is the chooser\nof his works.\n\n8:5. And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which\nmaketh all things?\n\n8:6. And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of those\nthings that are?\n\n8:7. And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she\nteacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are\nsuch things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.\n\n8:8. And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and\njudgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and\nthe solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be\ndone, and the events of times and ages.\n\n8:9. I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing\nthat she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a\ncomfort in my cares and grief.\n\n8:10. For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour\nwith the ancients, though I be young:\n\n8:11. And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be\nadmired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall\nwonder at me.\n\n8:12. They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look\nupon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on\ntheir mouth.\n\n8:13. Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall\nleave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.\n\n8:14. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to\nme.\n\n8:15. Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the multitude\nI shall be found good, and valiant in war.\n\n8:16. When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her\nconversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but\njoy and gladness.\n\n8:17. Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart,\nthat to be allied to wisdom is immortality,\n\n8:18. And that there is great delight in her friendship, and\ninexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of\nconference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her\nwords: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.\n\n8:19. And I was a witty child, and had received a good soul.\n\n8:20. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.\n\n8:21. And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God\ngave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was,\nI went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:\n\nWisdom Chapter 9\n\nSolomon's prayer for wisdom.\n\n9:1. God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with\nthy word,\n\n9:2. And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion\nover the creature that was made by thee,\n\n9:3. That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and\nexecute justice with an upright heart:\n\n9:4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off\nfrom among thy children:\n\n9:5. For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and\nof short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and\nlaws.\n\n9:6. For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom\nbe not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.\n\n9:7. Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy\nsons and daughters:\n\n9:8. And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an\naltar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy\ntabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:\n\n9:9. And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also\nwas present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to\nthy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.\n\n9:10. Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy\nmajesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may\nknow what is acceptable with thee:\n\n9:11. For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me\nsoberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.\n\n9:12. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people\njustly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.\n\n9:13. For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who\ncan think what the will of God is?\n\n9:14. For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels\nuncertain.\n\n9:15. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly\nhabitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.\n\n9:16. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and\nwith labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things\nthat are in heaven, who shall search out?\n\n9:17. And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send\nthy holy Spirit from above:\n\n9:18. And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and\nmen may learn the things that please thee?\n\n9:19. For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O\nLord, from the beginning.\n\nWisdom Chapter 10\n\nWhat wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the\npeople of Israel.\n\n10:1. She preserved him, that was first formed by God, the father of the\nworld, when he was created alone,\n\n10:2. And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern\nall things.\n\n10:3. But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished\nby the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.\n\nThe unjust... Cain.\n\n10:4. For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it\nagain, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood.\n\nFor whose cause... Viz., for the wickedness of the race of Cain.-Ibid.\nThe just... Noe.\n\n10:5. Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to\nwickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God,\nand kept him strong against the compassion for his son.\n\nShe knew the just... She found out and approved Abraham. Ibid. And kept\nhim strong, etc... Gave him strength to stand firm against the efforts\nof his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice his son.\n\n10:6. She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were\nperishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis:\n\nThe just man... Lot.-Ibid. Pentapolis... The land of the five cities,\nSodom, Gomorrha, etc.\n\n10:7. Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and\nsmoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a\nstanding pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul.\n\n10:8. For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that\nthey were ignorant of good things; but they left also unto men a\nmemorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned,\nthey could not so much as lie hid.\n\n10:9. But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her.\n\n10:10. She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath,\nthrough the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him\nthe knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours,\nand accomplished his labours.\n\nThe just... Jacob.\n\n10:11. In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, and\nmade him honourable.\n\n10:12. She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from\nseducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and\nknow that wisdom is mightier than all.\n\nConflict... Viz., with the angel.\n\n10:13. She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from\nsinners: she went down with him into the pit.\n\nThe just when he was sold... Viz., Joseph.\n\n10:14. And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre\nof the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed\nthem to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.\n\n10:15. She delivered the just people, and blameless seed, from the\nnations that oppressed them.\n\n10:16. She entered into the soul of the servant of God and stood against\ndreadful kings in wonders and signs.\n\nThe servant of God... Viz., Moses.\n\n10:17. And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and\nconducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by\nday, and for the light of stars by night:\n\n10:18. And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over\nthrough a great water.\n\n10:19. But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of\nhell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the\nwicked.\n\n10:20. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one\naccord thy victorious hand.\n\n10:21. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of\ninfants eloquent.\n\nWisdom Chapter 11\n\nOther benefits of wisdom to the people of God.\n\n11:1. She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet.\n\nThe holy prophet... Moses.\n\n11:2. They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in\ndesert places they pitched their tents.\n\n11:3. They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of their\nadversaries.\n\nTheir enemies... The Amalecites.\n\n11:4. They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given\nthem out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the\nhard stone.\n\n11:5. For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink\nfailed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and\nrejoiced:\n\nBy what things, etc... The meaning is, that God, who wrought a miracle\nto punish the Egyptians by thirst, when he turned all their waters into\nblood, (at which time the Israelites, who were exempt from those\nplagues, had plenty of water,) wrought another miracle in favour of his\nown people in their thirst, by giving them water out of the rock.\n\n11:6. By the same things they in their need were benefited.\n\n11:7. For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest\nhuman blood to the unjust.\n\n11:8. And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their\nmurdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked for:\n\n11:9. Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine,\nand didst kill their adversaries.\n\n11:10. For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew how\nthe wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented.\n\n11:11. For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the others,\nas a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn.\n\n11:12. For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike.\n\n11:13. For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the\nremembrance of things past.\n\n11:14. For when they heard that by their punishments the others were\nbenefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was\ncome to pass.\n\nBy their punishments, etc... That is, that the Israelites had been\nbenefited and miraculously favoured in the same kind, in which they had\nbeen punished.\n\n11:15. For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time\nof his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end,\nwhen they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the\njust.\n\n11:16. But for the foolish devices of their iniqnity, because some being\ndeceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou didst send\nupon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance:\n\nDumb beasts... Viz., frogs, sciniphs, flies, and locusts.\n\n11:17. That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the\nsame also he is tormented.\n\n11:18. For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without\nform, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce\nlions,\n\n11:19. Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing\nout a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting\nhorrible sparks out of their eyes:\n\n11:20. Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also\nthe very sight might kill them through fear.\n\n11:21. Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one\nblast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy\npower: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and\nweight.\n\n11:22. For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall\nresist the strength of thy arm?\n\n11:23. For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the\nbalance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho\nearth.\n\n11:24. But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things,\nand overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.\n\n11:25. For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the\nthings which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any\nthing hating it.\n\n11:26. And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be\npreserved, if not called by thee?\n\n11:27. But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest\nsouls.\n\nWisdom Chapter 12\n\nGod's wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites.\n\n12:1. O how good and sweet is thy Spirit, O Lord, in all things!\n\n12:2. And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and little:\nand admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the things\nwherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in\nthee, O Lord.\n\n12:3. For those ancient inhabitants of thy holy land, whom thou didst\nabhor,\n\n12:4. Because they did works hateful to thee by their sorceries, and\nwicked sacrifices,\n\n12:5. And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters of\nmen's bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy consecration,\n\nFrom the midst of thy consecration... Literally, sacrament. That is, the\nland sacred to thee, in which thy temple was to be established, and\nman's redemption to be wrought.\n\n12:6. And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless souls,\nit was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents,\n\n12:7. That the land which of all is most dear to thee, might receive a\nworthy colony of the children of God.\n\n12:8. Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps\nforerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little.\n\n12:9. Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by\nwar, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at once:\n\n12:10. But executing thy judgments by degrees, thou gavest them place of\nrepentance, not being ignorant that they were a wicked generation, and\ntheir malice natural, and that their thought could never be changed.\n\n12:11. For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou\nfor fear of any one give pardon to their sins.\n\n12:12. For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done?  or who shall\nwithstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger\nof wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which\nthou hast made?\n\n12:13. For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that\nthou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly.\n\n12:14. Neither shall king, nor tyrant, in thy sight inquire about them\nwhom thou hast destroyed.\n\n12:15. For so much then, as thou art just, thou orderest all things\njustly: thinking it not agreeable to the power, to condemn him who\ndeserveth not to be punished.\n\n12:16. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art\nLord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all.\n\n12:17. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be\nabsolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know\nthee not.\n\n12:18. But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and\nwith great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou\nwilt.\n\n12:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be\njust and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope:\nbecause in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins.\n\n12:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that\ndeserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place\nwhereby they might be changed from their wickedness:\n\n12:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to\nwhose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises?\n\n12:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies\nvery many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy\ngoodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.\n\n12:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their\nlife, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they\nworshipped.\n\n12:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error,\nholding those things for gods which are the most worthless among beasts,\nliving after the manner of children without understanding.\n\n12:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless\nchildren, to mock them.\n\n12:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions,\nexperienced the worthy judgment of God.\n\n12:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very\nthings which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same,\nthey acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that\nthey knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon\nthem.\n\nWisdom Chapter 13\n\nIdolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods\nthe works of the hands of men.\n\n13:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God:\nand who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him\nthat is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the\nworkman:\n\n13:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air,\nor the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to\nbe the gods that rule the world.\n\n13:3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods:\nlet them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for\nthe first author of beauty made all those things.\n\n13:4. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them\nunderstand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:\n\n13:5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the\ncreator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.\n\n13:6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed.  For they perhaps\nerr, seeking God, and desirous to find him.\n\n13:7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are\npersuaded that the things are good which are seen.\n\n13:8. But then again they are not to be pardoned.\n\n13:9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the\nworld: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?\n\n13:10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have\ncalled gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the\ninventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable\nstone the work of an ancient hand.\n\n13:11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his\nuse in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with\nhis art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of\nlife,\n\n13:12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:\n\n13:13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing,\nbeing a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently\nwhen he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth\nit, and maketh it like the image of a man:\n\n13:14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion,\nand painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:\n\n13:15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in\na wall, and fastening it with iron,\n\n13:16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable\nto help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.\n\n13:17. And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his substance,\nand his children, or his marriage.  And he is not ashamed to speak to\nthat which hath no life:\n\n13:18. And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life\nprayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is\nunprofitable:\n\n13:19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and\nfor getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh\nhim that is unable to do any thing.\n\nWisdom Chapter 14\n\nThe beginning of worshipping idols: and the effects thereof.\n\n14:1. Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage\nthrough the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than\nthe wood that carrieth him.\n\n14:2. For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by\nhis skill.\n\n14:3. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a\nway even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,\n\n14:4. Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though\na man went to sea without art.\n\n14:5. But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men\nalso trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea\nby ship, are saved.\n\n14:6. And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the\nhope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand,\nleft to the world seed of generation.\n\n14:7. For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh\n\n14:8. But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he\nthat made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is\ncalled a god.\n\n14:9. But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.\n\n14:10. For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall\nsuffer torments.\n\n14:11. Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the\nGentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, and\na temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.\n\n\n14:12. For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and\nthe invention of them is the corruption of life.\n\n14:13. For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be\nfor ever.\n\n14:14. For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore\nthey shall be found to come shortly to an end.\n\n14:15. For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself\nthe image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had\ndied as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him rites\nand sacrifices among his servants.\n\n14:16. Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error\nwas kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of\ntyrants.\n\n14:17. And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they\ndwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an\nexpress image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this\ntheir diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.\n\n14:18. And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of\nthe artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.\n\n14:19. For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured\nwith all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.\n\n14:20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work,\ntook him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a man.\n\n14:21. And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men\nserving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable\nname to stones and wood.\n\n14:22. And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God,\nbut whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many\nand so great evils peace.\n\n14:23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden\nsacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,\n\n14:24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but\none killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:\n\n14:25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and\ndissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury,\ndisquieting of the good,\n\n14:26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature,\ndisorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.\n\n14:27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the\nbeginning and end of all evil.\n\n14:28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy\nlies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.\n\n14:29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though\nthey swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.\n\n14:30. But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because\nthey have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn\nunjustly, in guile despising justice.\n\n14:31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just\nvengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.\n\nWisdom Chapter 15\n\nThe servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry;\ncondemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols.\n\n15:1. But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering\nall things in mercy.\n\n15:2. For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin\nnot, we know that we are counted with thee.\n\n15:3. For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and\nthy power, is the root of immortality.\n\n15:4. For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor the\nshadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers\ncolours,\n\n15:5. The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he\nloveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.\n\n15:6. The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to\ntrust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they\nthat worship them.\n\n15:7. The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every\nvessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that\nare for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what\nis the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.\n\n15:8. And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a\nlittle before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to\nthe same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him,\nshall be called for again.\n\n15:9. But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is\nshort, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he\nendeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to\nmake vain things.\n\n15:10. For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life more\nbase than clay:\n\n15:11. Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into\nhim the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.\n\n15:12. Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business of\nlife to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of\nevil.\n\n15:13. For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of\nearthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.\n\n15:14. But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection,\nare foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:\n\n15:15. For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods,\nwhich neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor\nears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their feet,\nthey are slow to walk.\n\n15:16. For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath,\nfashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.\n\n15:17. For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his wicked\nhands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because he indeed\nhath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.\n\n15:18. Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things\nwithout sense, compared to these, are worse than they.\n\n15:19. Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But\nthey have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.\n\nWisdom Chapter 16\n\nGod's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.\n\n16:1. For these things, and by the like things to these, they were\nworthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.\n\n16:2. Instead of which punishment, dealiug well with thy people, thou\ngavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing\nfor them quails for their meat:\n\n16:3. To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those\nthings that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which\nwas necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want\nfor a short time, tasted a new meat.\n\nThey indeed desiring food, etc... He means the Egyptians; who were\nrestrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and the\nflies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their meats.-Ibid.\nBut these... Viz., the Israelites.\n\n16:4. For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon\nthem that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how\ntheir enemies were destroyed.\n\n16:5. For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were\ndestroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents.\n\n16:6. But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a\nshort time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put them\nin remembrance of the commandment of thy law.\n\nSign of salvation... The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our\nSaviour.\n\n16:7. For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but\nby thee, the Saviour of all.\n\n16:8. And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who\ndeliverest from all evil.\n\n16:9. For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there\nwas found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be\ndestroyed by such things.\n\n16:10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy\nchildren: for thy mercy came and healed them.\n\n16:11. For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were\nquickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be\nable to use thy help.\n\n16:12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed\nthem, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.\n\n16:13. For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and\nleadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:\n\n16:14. A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone\nforth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is\nreceived:\n\n16:15. But it is impossible to escape thy hand:\n\n16:16. For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the\nstrength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and\nrain, and consumed by fire.\n\n16:17. And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all\nthings, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.\n\nThe fire had more force... Viz., when the fire and hail mingled together\nlaid waste the land of Egypt. Ex. 9.\n\n16:18. For at one time the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which\nwere sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might\nsee, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.\n\n16:19. And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the\nmidst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.\n\n16:20. Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the food\nof angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without labour;\nhaving in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.\n\n16:21. For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and\nserving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.\n\n16:22. But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that\nthey might know that the fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the\nrain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.\n\n16:23. But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even\nforget its own strength.\n\n16:24. For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce\nagainst the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for\nthe benefit of them that trust in thee.\n\n16:25. Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was\nobedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of\nthem that desired it of thee:\n\n16:26. That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it\nis not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word\npreserveth them that believe in thee.\n\n16:27. For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with\na little sunbeam, presently melted away:\n\n16:28. That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun\nto bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.\n\n16:29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's\nice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.\n\nWisdom Chapter 17\n\nThe Egyptian darkness.\n\n17:1. For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be\nexpressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.\n\n17:2. For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the\nholy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness,\nand a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the\neternal providence.\n\n17:3. And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were\nscattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly afraid,\nand troubled with exceeding great astonishment.\n\n17:4. For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for\nnoises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them,\naffrighted them.\n\n17:5. And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the\nbright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.\n\n17:6. But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being\nstruck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the\nthings which they saw to be worse:\n\n17:7. And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their\nboasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.\n\n17:8. For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick\nsoul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.\n\n17:9. For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with\nthe passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear\nand denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.\n\n17:10. For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its\ncondemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous\nthings.\n\n17:11. For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from\nthought.\n\n17:12. And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth\nit count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.\n\n17:13. But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done,\nand which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the\nsame sleep,\n\n17:14. Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes\nfainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for\nfear was come upon them.\n\n17:15. Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in\nprison without irons.\n\n17:16. For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in\nthe field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which\nhe could not fly.\n\n17:17. For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness.\nWhether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among\nthe spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with\nviolence,\n\n17:18. Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that\ncould not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of\nwild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these\nthings made them to swoon for fear.\n\n17:19. For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and none\nwere hindered in their labours.\n\n17:20. But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that\ndarkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more\ngrievous than the darkness.\n\nWisdom Chapter 18\n\nThe slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron's\nintercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core.\n\n18:1. But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice\nindeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not\nsuffer the same things, they glorified thee:\n\n18:2. And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they\nwere not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a\ndifference.\n\n18:3. Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of\nthe way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a\ngood entertainment.\n\nA harmless sun... A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that\nshould be an agreeable guest to them.\n\n18:4. The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and\nimprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure\nlight of the law was to be given to the world.\n\n18:5. And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child\nbeing cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a\nmultitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty\nwater.\n\nOne child... Viz., Moses.\n\n18:6. For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly\nknowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.\n\n\n18:7. So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction\nof the unjust.\n\n18:8. For as thou didst punish the adversaries so thou didst also\nencourage and glorify us.\n\n18:9. For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice\nsecretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just\nshould receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the\nfathers.\n\nOf good men... Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites,\noffered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were\nregulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and\nmost dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies.\n\n18:10. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the\nenemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were\nbewailed.\n\n18:11. And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a\ncommon man suffered in like manner as the king.\n\n18:12. So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death.\nNeither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the\nnoblest offspring of them was destroyed.\n\nThe noblest offspring... That is, the firstborn.\n\n18:13. For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of\nthe enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, they\nacknowledged the people to be of God.\n\n18:14. For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in\nthe midst of her course,\n\n18:15. Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne,\nas a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction,\n\n18:16. With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he\nstood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth,\nreached even to heaven.\n\n18:17. Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears\nunlooked for came upon them.\n\n18:18. And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause\nof his death.\n\n18:19. For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest\nthey should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils.\n\n18:20. But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death,\nand there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy\nwrath did not long continue;\n\n18:21. For a blameless man made haste to pry for the people, bringing\nforth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making\nsupplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity,\nshewing that he was thy servant.\n\n18:22. And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with\nforce of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them,\nalleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers.\n\n18:23. For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon\nanother, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to\nthe living.\n\n18:24. For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and\nin the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, and\nthy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head.\n\n18:26. And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them:\nfor the proof only of wrath was enough.\n\nWisdom Chapter 19\n\nWhy God shewed no mercy to the Egyptians. His favour to the Israelites.\nAll creatures obey God's orders for the service of the good, and the\npunishment of the wicked.\n\n19:1. But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath\nwithout mercy. For he knew before also what they would do:\n\n19:2. For when they had given them leave to depart and had sent them\naway with great care, they repented and pursued after them.\n\n19:3. For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of\nthe dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as\nfugitives whom they had pressed to be gone:\n\n19:4. For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this\nend: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened,\nthat their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments:\n\n19:5. And that thy people might wonderfully pass through, but they might\nfind a new death.\n\n19:6. For every creature, according to its kind was fashioned again as\nfrom the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might be\nkept without hurt.\n\n19:7. For a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before,\ndry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hindrance, and out\nof the great deep a springing field:\n\n19:8. Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy\nhand, seeing thy miracles and wonders.\n\n19:9. For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like\nlambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.\n\n19:10. For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in\nthe time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies instead\nof cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of\nfishes.\n\n19:11. And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led\nby their appetite, they asked for delicate meats.\n\n19:12. For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the\nsea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs\nby the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their\nown wickedness.\n\n19:13. For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any:\nothers indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought\ntheir guests into bondage that had deserved well of them.\n\n19:14. And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: for\nthe others against their will received the strangers.\n\n19:15. But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with\njoy, and who lived under the same laws.\n\n19:16. But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the\ndoors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and\nevery one sought the passage of his own door.\n\n19:17. For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an\ninstrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their\nsound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight.\n\nElements are changed, etc... The meaning is, that whatever changes God\nwrought in the elements by miracles in favour of his people, they still\nkept their harmony by obeying his will.\n\n19:18. For the things of the land were turned into things of the water:\nand the things that before swam in the water passed upon the land.\n\n19:19. The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water\nforgot its quenching nature.\n\n19:20. On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of corruptible\nanimals walking therein, neither did they melt that good food, which was\napt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst magnify thy people, O\nLord, and didst honour them, and didst not despise them, but didst\nassist them at all times, and in every place.\n\nThat good food... The manna.","title":"The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 25: Wisdom: The Challoner Revision","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":12012}