Book of Wisdom

The ungodly ... reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves,... we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been. ... Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, ... for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity.

What good has our boasted wealth brought us? All those things have vanished like a shadow, and like a rumor that passes by; like a ship that sails through the billowy water, and when it has passed no trace can be found, no track of its keel in the waves.

The Book of Wisdom (or Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom, Book of the Wisdom of Solomon), is a deuterocanonical text included in some versions of the Bible.

Quotes

• The ungodly ... reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves,...

we were born by mere chance,

and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been,

for the breath in our nostrils is smoke,

and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts

when it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes,

and the spirit will dissolve like empty air.

• 2:1-3 NRSV

• The ungodly ... reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves,...

Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist,

and make use of the creation to the full as in youth.

Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes,

and let no flower of spring pass us by.

Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.

Let none of us fail to share in our revelry;

everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment,

because this is our portion, and this our lot.

Let us oppress the righteous poor man;

let us not spare the widow

or regard the gray hairs of the aged.

But let our might be our law of right,

for what is weak proves itself to be useless.

• 2:6-11 NRSV

• Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, ...

for God created us for incorruption,

and made us in the image of his own eternity.

• 2:21-23 NRSV

• In the memory of virtue is immortality,

because it is known both by God and by mortals.

When it is present, people imitate it,

and they long for it when it has gone;

throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph.

• 4:1-2 NRSV

• What has our arrogance profited us?

And what good has our boasted wealth brought us?

All those things have vanished like a shadow,

and like a rumor that passes by;

like a ship that sails through the billowy water,

and when it has passed no trace can be found,

no track of its keel in the waves.

• 5:8-10 NRSV

• Wisdom is radiant and unfading,

and she is easily discerned by those who love her,

and is found by those who seek her.

She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.

One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,

for she will be found sitting at the gate.

To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding.

• 6:12-15 NRSV

• The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction.

• 6:17 NRSV

• For those who despise wisdom and instruction are doomed. Vain is their hope, fruitless their labors, and worthless their works.

• 3:11 New American Bible Revised Edition

• For wickedness, of its nature cowardly, testifies in its own condemnation,

and because of a distressed conscience, always magnifies misfortunes.

• • 17:11 New American Bible Revised Edition