The Book of Wisdom: the just man's path to God

The Book of Wisdom is one of the books of the Old Testament recognized by Catholics and some Orthodox, but it does not appear in Protestant Bibles. This book of the Septuagint is also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, because parts of it were attributed to King Solomon , known for the great wisdom God gave him. However, these writings - which praise Wisdom and the righteous who seek it - would probably be more recent, written by several authors in the 1st century BC, and would therefore predate the New Testament by a long way. What does this book, which so inspired early Christian writers, have to say to us? What keys does it give us to finding Wisdom?

The great philosophical questions of life

Philosophical questions are addressed from the angle of divine revelation and through the history of the Jewish people (especially chapters 10 to 19). " Wisdom] brought them across the Red Sea and through the deep waters. She drowned their enemies, and vomited them from the depths of the abyss" (Wisdom 10, 18-19).

Through the example of King Solomon and the rereading of the great episodes in the history of the Hebrew people, we are invited to contemplate the action of God's wisdom in our lives and in history.
"For those who despise Wisdom not only deprive themselves of the knowledge of true good, but also leave the living a reminder of their folly, so that their error does not go unnoticed" (Wisdom 10, 8).
This book, written in Greek, takes up the great themes of Greek philosophy from the perspective of Jewish spirituality. These great questions are still with us today:

• What is a righteous person? Chapters 1 to 5 clearly show the differences between the righteous - i.e. those whose conduct is "adjusted" to God's will - and the ungodly.
• What is the meaning of our destiny? 
• How can we achieve happiness?
• What is wisdom, and how do we acquire it?

19 beautiful verses from the Book of Wisdom

Wisdom is found by those who seek her

"Wisdom is radiant, she does not fade. She is easily beheld by those who love her, she is found by those who seek her" (Wisdom 6, 12).

"She comes and goes in search of those who are worthy of her; at the bend in the paths, she appears to them with a smiling face; in each of their thoughts, she comes to meet them." (Wisdom 6, 16)

"So I prayed, and discernment was given to me. I prayed, and the spirit of Wisdom came into me" (Wisdom 7, 7).

Origin and nature of Wisdom

"The beginning of Wisdom is the true desire to be instructed; the concern for instruction is love; love is to guard one's conscience.love is to keep one's laws; keeping laws is the assurance of incorruptibility, and incorruptibility makes one close to God. "( Wisdom 6, 17-19)

"Wisdom, in fact, moves with a motion that surpasses all others; it passes through and penetrates everything because of its purity. For she is the breath of God's power, the pure emanation of the glory of the Sovereign of the universe; therefore nothing unclean can reach her" (Wisdom 7, 24-25).

"For Wisdom cannot enter a soul that desires evil, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin. " (Wisdom 1, 4)

"Day fades before night, but against Wisdom evil can do nothing" (Wisdom 7, 30).

Wisdom is more desirable than any other good

"If wealth is a desirable good in this life, what is richer than Wisdom, who implements all things? If human intelligence can accomplish a work, who, more than Wisdom, is the artisan of the universe?" (Wisdom 8, 5-6)

"Do we want to become righteous? Wisdom's labors produce virtues: she teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing is more useful to men in existence" (Wisdom 8, 7).

Love of Wisdom: take wisdom as your wife

"When I enter my house, I will rest beside her, for her company is without bitterness; sharing her life causes no pain, only pleasure and joy." (Wisdom 8, 16)

"It was she I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought to take her as my wife; I became the lover of her beauty." (Wisdom 8:2)

Some wise life advice

"Therefore beware of needless recrimination, and rather than speak evil, hold back your tongue, for a word spoken in secret will not remain without effect: the mouth that slanders destroys the soul." (Wisdom 11, 1)
(Find otherBible verses on the importance of a good word)

"Do not run after death by deviating your life, do not attract catastrophe by the works of your hands. God did not make death; he does not rejoice to see living beings die" (Wisdom 1:12-13).

The importance of right conduct, guided by Wisdom

"But the souls of the righteous are in God's hand; no torment has any hold on them." (Wisdom 3:1)

"Indeed, you are the ministers of his kingship; if therefore you have not uprightly rendered justice, nor observed the Law, nor lived according to God's intentions, he will descend upon you, terrifying and swift, for implacable judgment is exercised on the great; to the small, out of pity, forgiveness is given, but the mighty will be judged with power." (Wisdom 6, 4-6)

"After small sorrows, great blessings await them, for God has tested them and found them worthy of him. Like gold in the crucible, he has tested them; like a perfect offering, he welcomes them." (Wisdom 3, 5-6)

"Wretched are those who hold wisdom and its discipline of life for nothing: empty is their hope, vain their labors, useless their works" (Wisdom 3, 11)

"Virtuous efforts produce a fruit of renown; that which is rooted in wisdom cannot miss its goal."(Wisdom 3, 15)

"Even if he dies before his time, the righteous will find rest." (Wisdom 4, 7)

Prayer to ask God for Wisdom (excerpts from chapter 9)

"God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, by your word you made the universe,

You formed man through your Wisdom, that he might be master of your creatures, that he might rule the world with justice and holiness, that he might render his judgments with righteousness.

Give me Wisdom, seated beside you; do not cut me off from the number of your children: I am your servant, the son of your handmaid, a frail and short-lived man, too weak to understand precepts and laws.

The most accomplished of the children of men, if he lacks the Wisdom you give, will be counted for nothing.

But Wisdom is with you, she who knows your works; she was there when you made the universe; she knows what pleases your eyes, what is in accordance with your decrees.

From the most holy heavens, deign to send her, bring her down from the throne of your glory. Let her work by my side and teach me what pleases you.

For she knows all, understands all, will guide my actions with prudence, will guard me with her glory."

Search for God's Wisdom with Hozana!

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God grants his Wisdom to those who ask for it: with this novena to the Holy Spirit, open up to the Spirit's gifts and wisdom in your life!