Wisdom of Solomon 8 · The Lantern

Wisdom reaches from one end to another mightily: and sweetly does she order all things.

There is a problem regarding certain very small animals, that is, whether they were created at the beginning of the creation or whether they derived later from the corruption of mortal beings. Most of these in fact come either from pathological mutations in living beings, or from their excrement or fumes or from decayed cadavers.

The true Father sent the Truth he had generated, he sent the Wisdom in which he had made everything, he sent the Word that he had conceived in his heart. In this mission, therefore, the coming must not be thought of as a change of place, as if the Son of God were sent from heaven to earth or that he was not on earth before taking flesh.

It is said of the virtues in the Book of Wisdom: "She reaches from end to end mightily," referring to fortitude; "and governs all things well," referring to justice.

I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.

I think, therefore, that Sarah, who is interpreted 'princess' or 'one exercising rule', holds the figure of ἀρετή, which is the virtue of the soul.

"Your wife like a fertile vine within your home, and your sons like olive plants around your table." Once again the literal sense must be avoided here. We see in fact that many very holy men have neither wife nor sons and that the wicked have all that. How then can this part of the blessing be applied, which you know often does not pertain to the good but to the bad?

(Vers. 2.). There follows: Her, namely wisdom, because she is of such great power, I loved, namely with the affection of the heart: whence above in the seventh chapter: "Beyond health and beauty I loved her." And I sought her out, that is, I sought outside myself, by the effect of good work, according to that passage of First John 3: "Let us not love in word nor in tongue, but…

In that she is associated with God, she magnifies her nobility: yes, the Lord of all things himself loved her.

For she is aware of the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.

If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that works all things?

And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more skilled craftsman than she?

And if a man love righteousness her labors are virtues: for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.

Wisdom does not live with vice in any way but unites without conflict with the other virtues. Her spirit is intelligent, without blemish, trustworthy, holy, loving of the good, acute, not opposed to any good, beneficent, stable, sure, possessing all virtues and seeing all. And then, "She teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude."

And if anyone loves justice, the labors of it possess great virtues. No one can attain the prize of righteousness unless he follows the rule of wisdom, because it preserves the standard of equity and leads by the way of truth to eternal life.

"For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful for men than these." These are impressed upon the soul by the said exemplary light, and they go down into the cognitive, the affective and the operative faculties.

If a man desire much experience, she knows things of old, and conjectures aright what is to come: she knows the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foresees signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.

Because there is no ignorance in Him, Daniel makes this clear, saying about Him: "He who knows what is in the darkness, and light is with Him," (Dan. 2:22) and also: "Blessed is the knower of secrets, knowing all things before they happen." (Dan.

It is clear that to the eternal power and wisdom of God, namely our Lord Jesus Christ, all things are open, and everything is possible for Him; there is nothing hidden from Him, nor can anything resist His will.

(Vers. 8.). And if a multitude of knowledge etc. Some have: And a likeness of knowledge, but that reading is false, although the present knowledge of man can more rightly be called a likeness of knowledge than knowledge, because it is mixed with much mutability and much ignorance.

Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counselor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.

The wise man, recounting many things about the virtues of wisdom, finally added that he desires to be joined to its company, from which he would have comfort and relief from his weariness; so also the people of the Church, who can truly be said to be king and genuinely wise, because they are members of the heavenly King and Lord, as the apostle Peter says: But you are a chosen…

Secondly, this is shown from the resolve to acquire it. I resolved therefore etc. Above he showed how much he loved wisdom, and this from his desire of possessing it: here from his resolve to acquire it, and this on account of the goods which come forth from it, and first on account of goods pertaining commonly to both lives: secondly, on account of those pertaining to the acti…

For her sake I shall have valuation among the multitude, and honor with the elders, though I be young.

I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.

When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear to me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.

Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.

Who would dare deny the immortality of the Son, simply because he has given immortality also to others? Indeed, it is written of the wisdom of God, "Through her I will obtain immortality." But the immortality of his nature is one thing and the immortality of ours another.

The saints possess immortality, because, instructed by the truth of faith and rooted and grounded in divine love, they are already partakers of the hope of future immortality, and by the teachings of sound doctrine, as well as by the examples of good works with the fruits of virtues, they will leave a blessed memory to the generations that come after them, and deservedly so, be…

(Vers. 13.). Moreover through her, namely through wisdom, I shall have immortality, namely of eternal glory in heaven: Proverbs 3: "She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her." And a remembrance: Gloss: "Of my works and virtues," eternal, that is, perpetual, as long as the world shall endure: I shall leave to those who shall come after me: Proverbs 10: "The memory of th…

I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject to me.

Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.

After I have come into my house, I will repose myself with her: for her companionship has no bitterness; and to live with her has no sorrow, but merriment and joy.

Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied to wisdom is immortality;

And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me.

For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.

A closer examination is needed of the passage in the book of Wisdom that says, "A good soul fell to my lot, and, because I was unusually good, I entered an undefiled body." This would in fact seem to support the opinion according to which it is believed that souls are not propagated from a single soul but enter bodies from on high.

From the Scriptural account of the Kings, we have learned that Solomon, in his youth, asked the Lord for wisdom and a teachable heart so that he might rightly judge the people of the Lord and discern between good and evil, which he obtained, to such an extent that no king before him was like him, nor would any arise after him.

Second, the aptitude for receiving her. Now I was a child etc. Here he touches on the aptitude for receiving, first on the part of natural ability, because as a child I was of good natural talent: second on the part of grace, because I obtained a good soul: third on the part of purity, because, since I was more good, I came to an undefiled body. (Vers. 19. 20.).

Yes rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed to the Lord, and begged him, and with my whole heart I said,

Continence is commanded of us. Where is this command? The apostle writes to Timothy, "Be continent!" It is a command, a precept—we must listen to it and put it into practice. But if God does not help us, we are unable to. We try to do something about it with our will, and the will engages in the attempt. Do not presume to do it without someone to help you in your weakness!

There is a gift of God the Father, a gift of the Son and also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Concerning the Father the apostle says, "By grace you are saved through faith.

Third, the confidence of obtaining it. (Vers. 21.). And as I knew, namely by the most certain cognition of faith and reason, that otherwise I cannot be continent unless God grant it.

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