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            THE BOOK OF WISDOM

Chapter 1

An exhortation to seek God sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and

desireth not our death.

1:1. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the

Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart:

1:2. For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself

to them that have faith in him.

1:3. For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is

tried, reproveth the unwise:

1:4. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a

body subject to sins.

1:5. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful,

and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding,

and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.

1:6. For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the

evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is

a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.

1:7. For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that

which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.

1:8. Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither

shall the chastising judgment pass him by.

1:9. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly,

and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of

his iniquities.

1:10. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of

murmuring shall not be hid.

1:11. Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth

nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech

shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.

1:12. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye

destruction by the works of your hands.

1:13. For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the

destruction of the living.

1:14. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the

nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction

in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.

1:15. For justice is perpetual and immortal.

1:16. But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and

esteeming it a friend, have fallen away and have made a covenant with

it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.

Chapter 2

The vain reasonings of the wicked: their persecuting the just,

especially the Son of God.

2:1. For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The

time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is

no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell:

2:2. For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we

had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a

spark to move our heart,

2:3. Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall

be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace

of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by

the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof:

2:4. And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any

remembrance of our works.

2:5. For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going

back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth:

2:6. Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are

present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth.

2:7. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not

the flower of the time pass by us.

2:8. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no

meadow escape our riot.

2:9. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us every where

leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot.

2:10. Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor

honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged.

2:11. But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is

feeble is found to be nothing worth.

2:12. Let us, therefore, lie in wait for the just, because he is not

for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with

transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way

of life.

2:13. He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth

himself the son of God.

2:14. He is become a censurer of our thoughts.

2:15. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like

other men's, and his ways are very different.

2:16. We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our

ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just,

and glorieth that he hath God for his father.

2:17. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall

happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be.

2:18. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will

deliver him from the hands of his enemies.

2:19. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his

meekness, and try his patience.

2:20. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be

respect had unto him by his words.

2:21. These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own

malice blinded them.

2:22. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of

justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls.

2:23. For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own

likeness he made him.

2:24. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world:

2:25. And they follow him that are of his side.

Chapter 3

The happiness of the just: and the unhappiness of the wicked.

3:1. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment

of death shall not touch them.

3:2. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure

was taken for misery:

3:3. And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are

in peace.

3:4. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope

is full of immortality.

3:5. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded:

because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.

3:6. As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a

holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect

had to them.

3:7. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among

the reeds.

3:8. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord

shall reign for ever.

3:9. They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that

are faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his

elect.

3:10. But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices:

who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord.

3:11. For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and

their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works

unprofitable.

3:12. Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked.

3:13. Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the

undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the

visitation of holy souls.

3:14. And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands,

nor thought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith

shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God.

3:15. For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom

never faileth.

3:16. But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and

the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.

3:17. And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their

last old age shall be without honour.

3:18. And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of

comfort in the day of trial.

3:19. For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race.

Chapter 4

The difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations: and

between the death of the just and the wicked.

4:1. How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory

thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.

4:2. When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it

hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the

reward of undefiled conflicts.

4:3. But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and

bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation.

4:4. And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not

fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of

winds they shall be rooted out.

4:5. For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their

fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing.

4:6. For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of

wickedness against their parents in their trial.

4:7. But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest.

4:8. For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the

number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs.

4:9. And a spotless life is old age.

4:10. He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was

translated.

4:11. He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his

understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

4:12. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the

wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind.

4:13. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time.

4:14. For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out

of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand

not, nor lay up such things in their hearts:

4:15. That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that

he hath respect to his chosen.

4:16. But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living,

and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.

4:17. For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not

understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set

him in safety.

4:18. They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall

laugh them to scorn.

4:19. And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach

among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and

speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall

be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall

perish.

4:20. They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their

iniquities shall stand against them to convict them.

Chapter 5

The fruitless repentance of the wicked in another world: the reward of

the just.

5:1. Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that

have afflicted them, and taken away their labours.

5:2. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall

be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation,

5:3. Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of

spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a

parable of reproach.

5:4. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without

honour.

5:5. Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their

lot is among the saints.

5:6. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of

justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not

risen upon us.

5:7. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and

have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not

known.

5:8. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting

of riches brought us?

5:9. All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post

that runneth on,

5:10. And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is

gone by, the trace cannot be found. nor the path of its keel in the

waters:

5:11. Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which

no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light

air, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings,

and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her

way:

5:12. Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly

cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known:

5:13. So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able

to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness.

5:14. Such things as these the sinners said in hell:

5:15. For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with

the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a

smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a

guest of one day that passeth by.

5:16. But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with

the Lord, and the care of them with the most High.

5:17. Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of

beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover

them, and with his holy arm he will defend them.

5:18. And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for

the revenge of his enemies.

5:19. He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true

judgment instead of a helmet:

5:20. He will take equity for an invincible shield:

5:21. And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole

world shall fight with him against the unwise.

5:22. Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as

from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the

mark.

5:23. And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting

wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers

shall run together in a terrible manner.

5:24. A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind

shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a

desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

Chapter 6

An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by

those that seek her.

6:1. Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a

strong man.

6:2. Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are

judges of the ends of the earth.

6:3. Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in

multitudes of nations:

6:4. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High,

who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts:

6:6. Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged

rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will

of God.

6:6. Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe

judgment shall be for them that bear rule.

6:7. For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall

be mightily tormented.

6:8. For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in

awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and

he hath equally care of all.

6:9. But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.

6:10. To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may

learn wisdom, and not fall from it.

6:11. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified:

and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.

6:12. Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have

instruction.

6:13. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by

them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.

6:14. She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth

herself unto them.

6:15. He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall

find her sitting at his door.

6:16. To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he

that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.

6:17. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she

sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with

all providence.

6:18. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.

6:19. And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of

her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of

incorruption:

6:20. And incorruption bringeth near to God.

6:21. Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting

kingdom.

6:22. If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of

the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.

6:23. Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.

6:24. Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and

I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out

from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to

light, and will not pass over the truth:

6:25. Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not

be partaker of wisdom.

6:26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world:

and a wise king is the upholding of the people.

6:27. Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be

profitable to you.

Chapter 7

The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.

7:1. I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him,

that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was

fashioned to be flesh.

7:2. In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of

man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.

7:3. And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth,

that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as

all others do.

7:4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares.

7:5. For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth.

7:6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

7:7. Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called

upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:

7:8. And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed

riches nothing in comparison of her.

7:9. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold,

in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to

her, shall be counted as clay.

7:10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her

instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.

7:11. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable

riches through her hands,

7:12. And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and

I knew not that she was the mother of them all.

7:13. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy,

and her riches I hide not.

7:14. For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use,

become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.

7:15. And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive

thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the

guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:

7:16. For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and

the knowledge and skill of works.

7:17. For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are:

to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the

elements,

7:18. The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the

alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,

7:19. The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars,

7:20. The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the

force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and

the virtues of roots,

7:21. And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned:

for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.

7:22. For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold,

subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is

good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,

7:23. Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power,

overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure,

subtile:

7:24. For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth

everywhere, by reason of her purity.

7:25. For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure

emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled

thing cometh into her.

7:26. For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted

mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.

7:27. And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in

herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations

conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and

prophets.

7:28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

7:29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order

of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

7:30. For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom.

Chapter 8

Further praises of wisdom: and her fruits.

8:1. She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth

all things sweetly.

8:2. Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have

desired to take for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.

8:3. She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and

the Lord of all things hath loved her.

8:4. For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God and is the

chooser of his works.

8:5. And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom,

which maketh all things?

8:6. And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of

those things that are?

8:7. And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she

teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which

are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.

8:8. And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and

judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and

the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they

be done, and the events of times and ages.

8:9. I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing

that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a

comfort in my cares and grief.

8:10. For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour

with the ancients, though I be young:

8:11. And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be

admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall

wonder at me.

8:12. They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look

upon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on

their mouth.

8:13. Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall

leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.

8:14. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to

me.

8:15. Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the

multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.

8:16. When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her

conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but

joy and gladness.

8:17. Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my

heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,

8:18. And that there is great delight in her friendship, and

inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of

conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her

words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.

8:19. And I was a witty child, and had received a good soul.

8:20. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.

8:21. And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God

gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it

was, I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole

heart:

Chapter 9

Solomon's prayer for wisdom.

9:1. God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things

with thy word,

9:2. And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion

over the creature that was made by thee,

9:3. That he should order the world according to equity and justice,

and execute justice with an upright heart:

9:4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off

from among thy children:

9:5. For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and

of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and

laws.

9:6. For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom

be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

9:7. Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy

sons and daughters:

9:8. And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an

altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy

tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:

9:9. And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also

was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to

thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.

9:10. Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy

majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may

know what is acceptable with thee:

9:11. For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me

soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.

9:12. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people

justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

9:13. For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who

can think what the will of God is?

9:14. For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels

uncertain.

9:15. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly

habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

9:16. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and

with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things

that are in heaven, who shall search out?

9:17. And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send

thy holy Spirit from above:

9:18. And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and

men may learn the things that please thee?

9:19. For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O

Lord, from the beginning.

Chapter 10

What wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the

people of Israel.

10:1. She preserved him, that was first formed by God, the father of

the world, when he was created alone,

10:2. And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern

all things.

10:3. But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished

by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.

The unjust. . .Cain.

10:4. For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it

again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood.

For whose cause. . .Viz., for the wickedness of the race of Cain.--Ibid.

The just. . .Noe.

10:5. Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to

wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God,

and kept him strong against the compassion for his son.

She knew the just. . .She found out and approved Abraham. Ibid.

And kept him strong, etc. . .Gave him strength to stand firm against

the efforts of his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice

his son.

10:6. She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were

perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis:

The just man. . .Lot.--Ibid. Pentapolis. . .The land of the five cities,

Sodom, Gomorrha, etc.

10:7. Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and

smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a

standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul.

10:8. For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that

they were ignorant of good things; but they left also unto men a

memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned,

they could not so much as lie hid.

10:9. But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her.

10:10. She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath,

through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him

the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours,

and accomplished his labours.

The just. . .Jacob.

10:11. In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him,

and made him honourable.

10:12. She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from

seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and

know that wisdom is mightier than all.

Conflict. . .Viz., with the angel.

10:13. She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him

from sinners: she went down with him into the pit.

The just when he was sold. . .Viz., Joseph.

10:14. And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre

of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed

them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.

10:15. She delivered the just people, and blameless seed, from the

nations that oppressed them.

10:16. She entered into the soul of the servant of God and stood

against dreadful kings in wonders and signs.

The servant of God. . .Viz., Moses.

10:17. And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and

conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by

day, and for the light of stars by night:

10:18. And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over

through a great water.

10:19. But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of

hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the

wicked.

10:20. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with

one accord thy victorious hand.

10:21. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of

infants eloquent.

Chapter 11

Other benefits of wisdom to the people of God.

11:1. She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet.

The holy prophet. . .Moses.

11:2. They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in

desert places they pitched their tents.

11:3. They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of

their adversaries.

Their enemies. . .The Amalecites.

11:4. They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given

them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the

hard stone.

11:5. For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink

failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and

rejoiced:

By what things, etc. . .The meaning is, that God, who wrought a miracle

to punish the Egyptians by thirst, when he turned all their waters into

blood, (at which time the Israelites, who were exempt from those

plagues, had plenty of water,) wrought another miracle in favour of his

own people in their thirst, by giving them water out of the rock.

11:6. By the same things they in their need were benefited.

11:7. For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest

human blood to the unjust.

11:8. And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their

murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked

for:

11:9. Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine,

and didst kill their adversaries.

11:10. For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew

how the wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented.

11:11. For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the

others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn.

11:12. For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike.

11:13. For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the

remembrance of things past.

11:14. For when they heard that by their punishments the others were

benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was

come to pass.

By their punishments, etc. . .That is, that the Israelites had been

benefited and miraculously favoured in the same kind, in which they had

been punished.

11:15. For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time

of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end,

when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the

just.

11:16. But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some

being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou

didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance:

Dumb beasts. . .Viz., frogs, sciniphs, flies, and locusts.

11:17. That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the

same also he is tormented.

11:18. For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without

form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce

lions,

11:19. Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing

out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting

horrible sparks out of their eyes:

11:20. Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but

also the very sight might kill them through fear.

11:21. Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one

blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of

thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and

weight.

11:22. For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall

resist the strength of thy arm?

11:23. For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the

balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho

earth.

11:24. But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things,

and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

11:25. For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the

things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any

thing hating it.

11:26. And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be

preserved, if not called by thee?

11:27. But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest

souls.

Chapter 12

God's wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites.

12:1. O how good and sweet is thy Spirit, O Lord, in all things!

12:2. And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and

little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the

things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may

believe in thee, O Lord.

12:3. For those ancient inhabitants of thy holy land, whom thou didst

abhor,

12:4. Because they did works hateful to thee by their sorceries, and

wicked sacrifices,

12:5. And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters

of men's bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy

consecration,

From the midst of thy consecration. . .Literally, sacrament. That is,

the land sacred to thee, in which thy temple was to be established, and

man's redemption to be wrought.

12:6. And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless

souls, it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents,

12:7. That the land which of all is most dear to thee, might receive a

worthy colony of the children of God.

12:8. Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps

forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little.

12:9. Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by

war, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at

once:

12:10. But executing thy judgments by degrees, thou gavest them place

of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a wicked generation,

and their malice natural, and that their thought could never be

changed.

12:11. For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou

for fear of any one give pardon to their sins.

12:12. For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done? or who shall

withstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger

of wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which

thou hast made ?

12:13. For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that

thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly.

12:14. Neither shall king, nor tyrant, in thy sight inquire about them

whom thou hast destroyed.

12:15. For so much then, as thou art just, thou orderest all things

justly: thinking it not agreeable to the power, to condemn him who

deserveth not to be punished.

12:16. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art

Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all.

12:17. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be

absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know

thee not.

12:18. But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and

with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou

wilt.

12:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be

just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope:

because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins.

12:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that

deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place

whereby they might be changed from their wickedness:

12:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to

whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises?

12:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies

very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy

goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.

12:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their

life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they

worshipped.

12:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error,

holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among

beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding.

12:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless

children, to mock them.

12:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions,

experienced the worthy judgment of God.

12:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very

things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same,

they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that

they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon

them.

Chapter 13

Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods

the works of the hands of men.

13:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God:

and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him

that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was

the workman:

13:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air,

or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to

be the gods that rule the world.

13:3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be

gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than

they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.

13:4. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them

understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:

13:5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the

creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.

13:6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps

err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

13:7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are

persuaded that the things are good which are seen.

13:8. But then again they are not to be pardoned.

13:9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of

the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?

13:10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have

called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the

inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable

stone the work of an ancient hand.

13:11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for

his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and

with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common

uses of life,

13:12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:

13:13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing,

being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently

when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth

it, and maketh it like the image of a man:

13:14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion,

and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:

13:15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in

a wall, and fastening it with iron,

13:16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable

to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.

13:17. And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his

substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to

speak to that which hath no life:

13:18. And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life

prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is

unprofitable:

13:19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and

for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh

him that is unable to do any thing.

Chapter 14

The beginning of worshipping idols: and the effects thereof.

14:1. Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his

voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more

frail than the wood that carrieth him.

14:2. For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by

his skill.

14:3. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a

way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,

14:4. Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though

a man went to sea without art.

14:5. But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men

also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea

by ship, are saved.

14:6. And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the

hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand,

left to the world seed of generation.

14:7. For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh

14:8. But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he

that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is

called a god.

14:9. But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.

14:10. For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall

suffer torments.

14:11. Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the

Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination,

and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the

unwise.

14:12. For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and

the invention of them is the corruption of life.

14:13. For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be

for ever.

14:14. For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore

they shall be found to come shortly to an end.

14:15. For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself

the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had

died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him

rites and sacrifices among his servants.

14:16. Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error

was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of

tyrants.

14:17. And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they

dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an

express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this

their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.

14:18. And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of

the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.

14:19. For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured

with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.

14:20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the

work, took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a

man.

14:21. And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men

serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable

name to stones and wood.

14:22. And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of

God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so

many and so great evils peace.

14:23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden

sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,

14:24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but

one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:

14:25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and

dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury,

disquieting of the good,

14:26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature,

disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.

14:27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the

beginning and end of all evil.

14:28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy

lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.

14:29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though

they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.

14:30. But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because

they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn

unjustly, in guile despising justice.

14:31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the

just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the

unjust.

Chapter 15

The servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry;

condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols.

15:1. But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering

all things in mercy.

15:2. For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin

not, we know that we are counted with thee.

15:3. For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and

thy power, is the root of immortality.

15:4. For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor

the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with

divers colours,

15:5. The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he

loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.

15:6. The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to

trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they

that worship them.

15:7. The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth

every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both

vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the

contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the

judge.

15:8. And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a

little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth

to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent

him, shall be called for again.

15:9. But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is

short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he

endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory

to make vain things.

15:10. For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life

more base than clay:

15:11. Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into

him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.

15:12. Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business

of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of

evil.

15:13. For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of

earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.

15:14. But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection,

are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:

15:15. For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods,

which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath,

nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their

feet, they are slow to walk.

15:16. For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath,

fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.

15:17. For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his

wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because

he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.

15:18. Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things

without sense, compared to these, are worse than they.

15:19. Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But

they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.

Chapter 16

God's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.

16:1. For these things, and by the like things to these, they were

worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.

16:2. Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou

gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing

for them quails for their meat:

16:3. To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those

things that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which

was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want

for a short time, tasted a new meat.

They indeed desiring food, etc. . .He means the Egyptians; who were

restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and

the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their

meats.--Ibid. But these. . .Viz., the Israelites.

16:4. For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon

them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how

their enemies were destroyed.

16:5. For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were

destroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents.

16:6. But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a

short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put

them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

Sign of salvation. . .The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our

Saviour.

16:7. For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw,

but by thee, the Saviour of all.

16:8. And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who

deliverest from all evil.

16:9. For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there

was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be

destroyed by such things.

16:10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy

children: for thy mercy came and healed them.

16:11. For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and

were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might

not be able to use thy help.

16:12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed

them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

16:13. For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and

leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:

16:14. A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone

forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is

received:

16:15. But it is impossible to escape thy hand:

16:16. For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the