Chapter 6
6:1 Hear therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, judges of the ends of the earth.
RABANUS. Wisdom, therefore, wherever it dwells, always governs the mind well. For the powers of the body, being mostly foolish, often cast themselves into the abyss of sins: therefore the wise is preferred to the strong, because wisdom directs the steps of man; but bodily strength, although sometimes, when it has overcome someone through power, may imitate strength, yet without the guidance of carefulness it will appear weak, when it is exhausted by foolish labor. Therefore it is written in the psalm: He will not take pleasure in the strength of the horse; nor is there delight in the legs of a man. The Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, and in those who hope in His mercy (Ps. 147:10–11). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
Wisdom rebukes the judges of the earth, who have received authority from the Lord, because they did not keep the law of righteousness, foretelling to them the punishments which they will suffer.
6:2 Give ear, you who rule a multitude and boast over crowds of nations; 6:3 for authority has been given to you from the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High, who will examine your works and inquire into your plans. 6:4 Because, as servants of His kingdom, you did not judge rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the counsel of God. 6:5 Terribly and swiftly He will come upon you, because a severe judgment comes upon those in high place. 6:6 For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested;
RABANUS. They admonish the rulers of the Church to keep the justice of God's commandments, and to hurry to learn and understand the truth of the divine testimonies: for just as they themselves, having been appointed by the Lord with given authority, are made teachers and judges of their brethren so that they may judge them according to the principle of impartiality, and teach them to keep the rule of faith with good works, so they themselves also await divine judgment, which neither deceives nor can be deceived, who judges not only their deeds but also their thoughts and wills, and will judge with strict examination those who did not live according to the will of God and the law of the commandments, nor even taught or judged others. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
VIGILIUS. Of the common kingdom. The Father reigns, the Son reigns, the Holy Spirit reigns. Of the Father in the Gospel: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:5). Of the Son in the ninety-fifth psalm (Verse 10): Say among the nations, the Lord has reigned from the tree. Of the Holy Spirit in Solomon: Power has been given to you by the Spirit of the Lord (Wis. 6:3). And below: And when you were ministers of that kingdom, you judged not rightly (verse 5). [Vigilius of Thapsus, Against Marivadus the Arian, PL 62] 5 th century
GREGORY THE GREAT. [Verse 6] In Holy Scripture, when the sun is presented figuratively, sometimes the Lord is signified by it, as is stated in the book of Wisdom, where it is said that all the wicked, upon recognizing their own condemnation at the final judgment, will say: We have strayed from the path of truth, and the light of justice did not shine for us; and the sun did not rise for us (Wis. 5:6). As if they were openly saying: The ray of inner light did not shine upon us. Therefore, John also says: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. For in the sun is understood the illumination of truth, but in the moon, which wanes with its monthly cycles, is understood the mutability of temporality. [Gregory the Great, Exposition of the New Testament, 24.38] died 604 AD
ANASTASIUS. Through this, God teaches us that from those who are perfect in virtue, God demands an exact account of life, and towards other men, who commit great crimes, He is lenient and merciful; He does not grant this pardon to the saints. A certain Wise Man also said this: "For mercy is indeed to be granted to the least; but the mighty will be examined mightily." The Lord: "For to whom, He says, little has been given, little will be required from him; but to whom much, much will also be required from him." [Anastasius of Sanai, PL 89, Questions 37] 620-700AD
6:7 for the Lord of all will not show partiality, nor will He stand in awe of greatness, because He made the small and the great alike and cares for all equally;
RABANUS. To those who, through ignorance or weakness or even necessity, have committed certain crimes, and yet have not ceased through humility and repentance to erase those sins, the most merciful Judge grants the grace of forgiveness. But for those who, through stubbornness and contempt for the commandments of God, have committed many and grave crimes, and have neglected to repent of them, more severe torments are assigned in Hades: for just as they were more powerful in the act of wickedness, so they endure stronger punishments in the fire of Gehenna. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:8 but a strong inquiry is laid upon the powerful. 6:9 Therefore, to you, O tyrants, are my words, that you may learn wisdom and not fall away.
RABANUS. For God is not a respecter of persons, as the apostle Peter testifies; but in every nation, whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:35). But for those who are false teachers and introduce destructive sects, and deny the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2), the gloom of darkness is reserved. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to Hades, delivering them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment and punishment, and did not spare the original world, but preserved Noah, the eighth, a preacher of righteousness, bringing the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, making them an example to those who would act wickedly; and delivered righteous Lot, oppressed by the unjust conduct of the lawless; for by sight and hearing he was righteous, living among them, tormenting his righteous soul day by day by their wicked deeds: so also now those who walk after another flesh in lust and impurity, bold, self-pleasing, and do not fear to make sects, blaspheming, will perish in their own corruption, receiving the reward of their injustice. For God fears no one's greatness, because He Himself is above all and His greatness has no end. He accepts no one's person, because He will judge each according to his ways. He cares equally for all, because He is the creator of all, and He takes proper care of His work and provides the help by which it may subsist. Therefore, after wisdom has spoken to the powerful and rebuked the hardness of their hearts with words, it now turns the speech of exhortation to the rulers themselves, and wonderfully explains the praise of wisdom. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:10 For those who keep holy things holy will be made holy, and those taught them will find a defense. 6:11 Desire therefore my words, long for them, and you will be instructed .
RABANUS. They admonish ecclesiastical rulers, indeed all generally to whom governance of their souls is entrusted, to learn divine wisdom, so that they may not transgress the commandments of God. For those who keep what is just will be justly justified, that is, those who pursue justice will receive from the just Judge the reward of their justice; and those who have learned what is just, surely by believing rightly and acting well, to them it will be given what to answer when the examination of each one takes place, because the good merit of the present life seeks the blessed reward of eternal glory. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
Wisdom urges the rulers of the Church to listen to and desire her words, for she freely offers herself to them, granting at the same time integrity of body and chastity of soul.
6:12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and is easily seen by those who love her and found by those who seek her,
RABANUS. It is true that whoever loves wisdom and is hard-working in its meditation preserves discipline in morals, nor can a lover of wisdom be proven otherwise unless he is a preserver of discipline. Therefore, Truth itself says: If you love me, keep my commandments (Jn. 14:15). And again: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word (Jn. 14:23). Therefore James also says: Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, because not the hearers of the law will be justified before the Lord, but the doers of the law (James 1:22). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:13 she anticipates those who desire to make herself known.
RABANUS. The glory of wisdom is unfading, and it is open only to those who truly love it and diligently seek it. But those who seek it falsely will in no way attain it, because, as was said above, the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from deceit, and wisdom will not enter into a wicked soul. Therefore, in Proverbs, wisdom says: I love those who love me, and those who rise early to seek me will find me (Prov. 8:17). And again: Blessed is the man who listens to me, who watches daily at my gates, and waits at the posts of my doors. Whoever finds me finds life, and will draw salvation from the Lord. But whoever sins against me injures his own soul. All who hate me love death (Prov. 8:34-36) [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:14 He who rises early for her will not weary, for he will find her sitting at his gates. 6:15 To think about her is perfection of care, and whoever keeps watch for her will soon be free from care;
RABANUS. This wisdom is Christ, the Son of God, of whom the Apostle says: I speak of Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God, in whom all the fullness of divinity dwells bodily (Col. 2:9). Therefore, he anticipates all with his grace, whoever longs for his love, because he himself is the way, the truth, and the life; through him one goes, toward him one strives, to him one arrives. But he who has vigilantly watched with a devoted heart from the origin of dawning faith in himself is not consumed by empty labor but is crowned by him for the zeal of good works. For he will find her sitting at his doors, because he will always have her help ready. Therefore, in the Apocalypse he himself says: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone opens to me, I will enter to him, and will dine with him, and he with me (Rev. 3:20). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:16 for she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and in their paths she appears graciously, and in every thought she meets them. 6:17 For the beginning of her is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love,
RABANUS. The thought of pure mind is the desire for divine contemplation; how then will he not be fulfilled in feeling, who is always intent on the love of the highest good, and blessed will he be, who with ever-watchful intention seeks the highest Wisdom, whose true adoption is the perception of true sincerity? But no one becomes exalted suddenly; rather, ascent to the highest must be through progress in virtues. Therefore, in the present life, effort must be devoted to learning wisdom, and in conduct, one must live according to the rule of its discipline. But when it has saturated him and perfectly possessed him, it will make him a participant in eternal happiness. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
GREGORY THE GREAT. [Verse 16] The paths of life lead to the Creator. Through visible things we have departed from God; through the same things we ought to return to God. For the paths to the Creator are the works of creation considered. When we observe what has been made, we marvel at the power of the Maker. In these paths, all wisdom meets us with providence, because the power of the Maker is set before us to be sought in everything that appears to be wonderfully made; and wherever the soul turns, if it pays careful attention, in these very things it finds God, through which it had departed; and it recognizes His power again from the consideration of those things, for the love of which it had abandoned Him; and through those things by which it fell perversely, by these things turned rightly it is recalled. For where we have fallen, there we must strive to rise; and as if by rising there, we fix the hand of consideration where, by the foot of careless love, we had fallen and lay neglected. For since we have fallen from the invisible through the visible, it is fitting that we should lean again on the visible to return to the invisible, so that by the same way by which the soul descended to the lowest, by that same step it may return to the highest; and by the same steps by which it fell, it may rise, while, as has been said, those things well considered call us back to God, which, badly chosen, separated us from Him. [ Gregory the Great, Morals on Job, PL 75-76. 5.14.18] died 604 AD
6:18 and love is the keeping of her laws, and attention to the laws is assurance of incorruption, 6:19 and incorruption brings one near to God. 6:20 Desire for wisdom therefore leads to a kingdom. 6:21 If then you delight in thrones and scepters, O tyrants of peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign forever.
RABANUS. The Apostle Peter shows the steps of this benefit and progress in his Epistle, saying: But you, brothers, making every effort, supply in your faith virtue, and in virtue knowledge, and in knowledge self-control, and in self-control patience, and in patience godliness, and in godliness brotherly love, and in brotherly love charity. For if these things are present and abound in you, they will make you neither idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8). For he who, for the love of wisdom, lives with discipline in this world, keeping the commandments of God, through the progress of sacred virtues, will attain to the incorruption of immortality and eternal life, which is surely in the knowledge of the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore he himself says in the Gospel to the Father: And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (Jn. 17:3). But when he has truly known God, then in the contemplation of Him, he will enjoy everlasting blessedness, and reigning together with his King, he will remain in perpetual light. If then you delight in thrones and scepters, O tyrants of peoples . It is necessary to remind the kings of the earth to love wisdom, because without wisdom it is impossible for anyone to rule rightly. Therefore this saying of Plato: The state is well governed when philosophers rule, and rulers philosophize. For to wish to hold the kingdom without wisdom is more an act of tyrannical cruelty than of royal moderation. Therefore, rulers should consider how fitting it is that they themselves be constant in meditation on the divine law. For whoever follows the standard of the sacred Scriptures in learning, teaching, and acting will without doubt receive the joy of the heavenly kingdom. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:22 But what wisdom is and how she came to be, I will declare, and I will not hide mysteries from you, but from the beginning of her birth I will search out and set forth her knowledge plainly, and I will not pass over the truth. 6:23 Nor indeed will I keep company with consuming envy, because this does not share in wisdom.
RABANUS. It is clear that the plague of envy is not a companion of wisdom, because through the envy of the Devil, death entered into the whole world, and through the wisdom of God the human race was rescued from the snare of death. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
6:24 But the multitude of the wise is the salvation of the world, and a prudent king the stability of a people. 6:25 Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will benefit.
RABANUS. But the multitude of the wise is the assembly of holy preachers, whose teaching is the health of the world, because through it an innumerable crowd of various nations has been converted to the faith of Christ. Of this crowd, indeed, the wise king is, or rather, the very wisdom and power of God, Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, who becomes the strength of his elect, since, as the Psalmist attests, the Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his Christ (Ps. 28:8); of whom the same Prophet says: The Lord is my rock and my strength, and my savior, my strong God, I will hope in him (2 Sam. 22:2-3). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD