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Wisdom of Solomon

About this book
Chapter 4

1 It is better to be childless with virtue, for immortality is in the memory of virtue, because it is recognized both before God and before men.⁠ 2 When it is present, people imitate it. They long after it when it has departed. Throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph, victorious in the competition for the prizes that are undefiled. 3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly will be of no profit, and their illegitimate offshoots won’t take deep root, nor will they establish a sure hold.⁠ 4 For even if they grow branches and flourish for a season, standing unsure, they will be shaken by the wind. They will be uprooted by the violence of winds. 5 Their branches will be broken off before they come to maturity. Their fruit will be useless, never ripe to eat, and fit for nothing. 6 For unlawfully conceived children are witnesses of wickedness against parents when they are investigated.

Righteousness and Early Death

7 But a righteous man, even if he dies before his time, will be at rest.⁠ 8 For honorable old age is not that which stands in length of time, nor is its measure given by number of years,⁠ 9 but understanding is gray hair to men, and an unspotted life is ripe old age.⁠ 10 Being found well-pleasing to God, someone was loved. While living among sinners he was transported.⁠ 11 He was caught away, lest evil should change his understanding, or guile deceive his soul. 12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures the things which are good, and the whirl of desire perverts an innocent mind.⁠ 13 Being made perfect quickly, he filled a long time; 14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. Therefore he hurried out of the midst of wickedness. 15 But the peoples saw and didn’t understand, not considering this, that grace and mercy are with his chosen, and that he visits his holy ones; 16 but a righteous man who is dead will condemn the ungodly who are living,⁠ and youth who is quickly perfected will condemn the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age. 17 For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, and won’t understand what the Lord planned for him, and why he safely kept him. 18 They will see, and they will despise; but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this, they will become a dishonored carcass and a reproach among the dead forever;⁠ 19 because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and will shake them from the foundations. They will lie utterly waste. They will be in anguish and their memory will perish. 20 They will come with cowardly fear when their sins are counted. Their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

Texts in conversation

Compare Wisdom of Solomon 4:16 and Matthew 12:41

Deuterocanon · New Testament

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Summary

The Wisdom of Solomon describes a future where the righteous dead are resurrected to condemn the unrighteous who remain alive, turning it into a moment of judgment. Matthew echoes this reversal when Nineveh is said to judge the present generation.

Passages

Wisdom of Solomon 4:16

Deuterocanon
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. Therefore he hurried out of the midst of wickedness. 15 But the peoples saw and didn’t understand, not considering this, that grace and mercy are with his chosen, and that he visits his holy ones; 16 but a righteous man who is dead will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth who is quickly perfected will condemn the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age. 17 For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, and won’t understand what the Lord planned for him, and why he safely kept him. 18 They will see, and they will despise; but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this, they will become a dishonored carcass and a reproach among the dead forever;
50 BCE – 50 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Wisdom of Solomon

Matthew 12:41

New Testament
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because they repented when Jonah preached to them—and now, something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon—and now, something greater than Solomon is here! 43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it.
70–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Matthew

References

"... The final judgment in the Wisdom of Solomon emphasizes the eschatological vindication of the righteous by God. The backdrop is the apparent prosperity of the wicked, who not only abuse the righteous, but mock them for their eschatological hope. Chapter 3 first explains a special judgment, indicating that immediately after death the “souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seem to have died ...” (3:1-2). However, a day of final judgment still awaits (3:7, 18; 5:1) a day when the continuing “hope” (3:4) of the righteous dead will be brought to fulfillment. On this day the righteous dead will be resurrected (3:7-8; 4:16; 5:1, 4) and will confront those among the ungodly who are alive face to face (4:16; 5:1). The Wisdom of Solomon blends trial imagery and warfare imagery in its depiction of the final judgment ..."
Brian Han Gregg, “The Historical Jesus and the Final Judgment Sayings in Q” (PhD diss., University of Notre Dame, 2005), 94–95.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Wisdom of Solomon 4:16 and Matthew 12:41

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