Texts in Conversation
Proverbs introduces its collection by contrasting those who revere wisdom with those who reject it, calling such rejection the mark of fools. The Wisdom of Solomon echoes this pattern, describing those who ignore wisdom as having empty hopes and meaningless pursuits.
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Proverbs 1:7
Hebrew Bible
5 (Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!) 6 To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction. 8 Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother. 9 For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Wisdom of Solomon 3:11
Deuterocanon
9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect. 10 But the ungodly will be punished as their reasoning deserves, those who disregarded the righteous and rebelled against the Lord; 11 for those who despise wisdom and instruction are miserable. Their hope is vain, their labors are unprofitable, and their works are useless. 12 Their wives are foolish, and their children evil; 13 their offspring are accursed. For blessed is the barren woman who is undefiled, who has not entered into a sinful union; she will have fruit when God examines souls.
Date: 100-50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Alternation of singular and plural is not uncommon in wisdom literature; verse 11 should be read as a parenthesis. sets at naught. Compare Proverbs 1:7, LXX. empty ... hopes. Compare Job 7:6, LXX; Sirach 31:1 ..."
Winston, David
The Wisdom of Solomon: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary
(p. 129) Doubleday, 1979
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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