Wisdom 8
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
8 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.
Solomon’s Love for Wisdom
2 I loved her and sought her from my youth;
I desired to take her for my bride,
and became enamored of her beauty.
3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God,
and the Lord of all loves her.
4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God,
and an associate in his works.
5 If riches are a desirable possession in life,
what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things?
6 And if understanding is effective,
who more than she is fashioner of what exists?
7 And if anyone loves righteousness,
her labors are virtues;
for she teaches self-control and prudence,
justice and courage;
nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these.
8 And if anyone longs for wide experience,
she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come;
she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles;
she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders
and of the outcome of seasons and times.
Wisdom Indispensible to Rulers
9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she would give me good counsel
and encouragement in cares and grief.
10 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes
and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.
11 I shall be found keen in judgment,
and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.
12 When I am silent they will wait for me,
and when I speak they will give heed;
if I speak at greater length,
they will put their hands on their mouths.
13 Because of her I shall have immortality,
and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.
14 I shall govern peoples,
and nations will be subject to me;
15 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me;
among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.
16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her;
for companionship with her has no bitterness,
and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.
17 When I considered these things inwardly,
and pondered in my heart
that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,
18 and in friendship with her, pure delight,
and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth,
and in the experience of her company, understanding,
and renown in sharing her words,
I went about seeking how to get her for myself.
19 As a child I was naturally gifted,
and a good soul fell to my lot;
20 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.
21 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—
and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was—
so I appealed to the Lord and implored him,
and with my whole heart I said:
Wisdom of Solomon 8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.(A)
Love for Wisdom
2 I loved her and sought her from my youth;
I desired to take her for my bride
and became enamored of her beauty.(B)
3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God,
and the Lord of all loves her.(C)
4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God
and an associate in his works.
5 If riches are a desirable possession in life,
what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things?(D)
6 And if understanding is effective,
who more than she is fashioner of what exists?(E)
7 And if anyone loves righteousness,
her labors are virtues,
for she teaches self-control and prudence,
justice and courage;
nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these.
8 And if anyone longs for wide experience,
she knows the things of old and infers the things to come;
she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles;
she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders
and of the outcome of seasons and times.(F)
Wisdom Indispensable to Rulers
9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she would give me good counsel
and encouragement in cares and grief.(G)
10 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes
and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.(H)
11 I shall be found keen in judgment,
and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.(I)
12 When I am silent they will wait for me,
and when I speak they will give heed;
if I speak at greater length,
they will put their hands on their mouths.(J)
13 Because of her I shall have immortality
and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.(K)
14 I shall govern peoples,
and nations will be subject to me;(L)
15 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me;
among the people I shall show myself capable and courageous in war.
16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her,
for companionship with her has no bitterness,
and life with her has no pain but gladness and joy.(M)
17 When I considered these things inwardly
and pondered in my heart
that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,(N)
18 and in friendship with her, pure delight,
and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth,
and in the experience of her company, understanding,
and renown in sharing her words,
I went about seeking how to get her for myself.(O)
19 As a child I was naturally gifted,
and a good soul fell to my lot,
20 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.
21 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—
and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was—
so I appealed to the Lord and implored him,
and with my whole heart I said,(P)
Wisdom 8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 8
1 Indeed, she spans the world from end to end mightily
and governs all things well.(A)
Wisdom, the Source of Blessings
2 Her I loved and sought after from my youth;
I sought to take her for my bride[a]
and was enamored of her beauty.(B)
3 She adds to nobility the splendor of companionship with God;
even the Ruler of all loved her.
4 For she leads into the understanding of God,
and chooses his works.(C)
5 If riches are desirable in life,
what is richer than Wisdom, who produces all things?(D)
6 And if prudence is at work,(E)
who in the world is a better artisan than she?
7 Or if one loves righteousness,
whose works are virtues,
She teaches moderation and prudence,
righteousness and fortitude,[b]
and nothing in life is more useful than these.
8 Or again, if one yearns for wide experience,
she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come.
She understands the turns of phrases and the solutions of riddles;
signs and wonders she knows in advance
and the outcome of times and ages.(F)
Wisdom as Solomon’s Counselor and Comfort
9 So I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well,
and my comfort in care and grief.
10 Because of her I have glory among the multitudes,(G)
and esteem from the elders, though I am but a youth.
11 I shall become keen in judgment,
and shall be a marvel before rulers.
12 They will wait while I am silent and listen when I speak;
and when I shall speak the more,
they will put their hands upon their mouths.[c]
13 Because of her I shall have immortality
and leave to those after me an everlasting memory.(H)
14 I shall govern peoples, and nations will be my subjects—(I)
15 tyrannical princes, hearing of me, will be afraid;
in the assembly I shall appear noble, and in war courageous.
16 Entering my house, I shall take my repose beside her;
For association with her involves no bitterness
and living with her no grief,
but rather joy and gladness.(J)
Wisdom Is a Gift of God
17 Reflecting on these things,
and considering in my heart
That immortality lies in kinship with Wisdom,(K)
18 great delight in love of her,
and unfailing riches in the works of her hands;
And that in associating with her there is prudence,
and fair renown in sharing her discourses,
I went about seeking to take her for my own.
19 [d]Now, I was a well-favored child,
and I came by a noble nature;
20 or rather, being noble, I attained an unblemished body.
21 And knowing that I could not otherwise possess her unless God gave it—
and this, too, was prudence, to know whose gift she is—
I went to the Lord and besought him,(L)
and said with all my heart:
Footnotes
- 8:2 I loved…my bride: the erotic quality in the pursuit of and living with Woman Wisdom, who is the Lord’s consort (9:4) and loved by him, continues throughout this chapter (vv. 16, 18). It is reflected already in Prv 4:5–9; 7:4–5. See also Sir 15:2–5; 51:13–21.
- 8:7 Moderation…fortitude: known also as the cardinal virtues, and recognized in Greek philosophy (Plato).
- 8:12 Hands upon their mouths: a sign of respect for unanswerable wisdom; cf. Jb 40:4.
- 8:19–20 Here the author mentions first bodily, then spiritual, excellence. To make it plain that the latter is the governing factor in the harmonious development of the human person, he then reverses the order. The Platonic doctrine of the pre-existence of the soul is often read into these lines, but such an anthropology does not seem to be the intent of the author (cf. 7:1–6). Verse 20 appears to rule out any misunderstanding of v. 19. Verse 21 emphasizes that he did not bring talent to his “birth”; his wisdom is the gift of God.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.