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Wisdom of Solomon

About this book
Chapter 8

1 But she reaches from one end to the other with full strength, and orders all things well.⁠

Solomon Seeks Wisdom as His Companion

2 I loved her and sought her from my youth. I sought to take her for my bride. I became enamoured by her beauty.⁠ 3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God. The Sovereign Lord of all loves her. 4 For she is initiated into the knowledge of God, and she chooses his works. 5 But if riches are a desired possession in life, what is richer than wisdom, which makes all things? 6 And if understanding is effective, who more than wisdom is an architect of the things that exist? 7 If a man loves righteousness, the fruits of wisdom’s labor are virtues, for she teaches soberness, understanding, righteousness, and courage.⁠ There is nothing in life more profitable for people than these. 8 And if anyone longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come. She understands subtleties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings.⁠ She foresees signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.⁠ 9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she is one who would give me good counsel, and encourage me in cares and grief. 10 Because of her, I will have glory among multitudes, and honor in the sight of elders, though I am young. 11 I will be found keen when I give judgment. I will be admired in the presence of rulers. 12 When I am silent, they will wait for me. When I open my lips, they will heed what I say. If I continue speaking, they will put their hands on their mouths.⁠ 13 Because of her, I will have immortality, and leave behind an eternal memory to those who come after me.⁠ 14 I will govern peoples. Nations will be subjected to me. 15 Dreaded monarchs will fear me when they hear of me. Among the people, I will show myself to be good, and courageous in war. 16 When I come into my house, I will find rest with her. For her company has no bitterness, and living with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.

Wisdom Must Be Received from God

17 When I considered these things in myself, and thought in my heart how immortality is in kinship to wisdom, 18 and in her friendship is good delight, and in the labors of her hands is wealth that doesn’t fail, and understanding is in her companionship, and great renown in having fellowship with her words, I went about seeking how to take her to myself. 19 Now I was a clever child, and received a good soul. 20 Or rather, being good, I came into an undefiled body. 21 But perceiving that I could not otherwise possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—⁠ and to know by whom the grace is given was itself a mark of understanding—⁠ I pleaded with the Lord and implored him, and with my whole heart I said:

Texts in conversation

Compare Wisdom of Solomon 8:8 and Luke 12:56

Deuterocanon · New Testament

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Summary

In the Wisdom of Solomon, wisdom is said to understand past and future events and interpret signs and seasons. Luke echoes this when Jesus urges people to recognize the meaning of their present time, following a practice of observing signs in the sky.

Passages

Wisdom of Solomon 8:8

Deuterocanon
5 But if riches are a desired possession in life, what is richer than wisdom, which makes all things? 6 And if understanding is effective, who more than wisdom is an architect of the things that exist? 7 If a man loves righteousness, the fruits of wisdom’s labor are virtues, for she teaches soberness, understanding, righteousness, and courage. There is nothing in life more profitable for people than these. 8 And if anyone longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come. She understands subtleties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings. She foresees signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.
50 BCE – 50 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Wisdom of Solomon

Luke 12:56

New Testament
54 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 “And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”
75–85 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Luke

References

"... in a way in which its appearance can be detected sensibly. The noun 'parateresis' occurs only here in the whole Greek Bible (save for Aquila's later rendering of Exodus 12:42). It is used by Hellenistic writers (such as Polybius, Hist. 16.22,8; Diodorus Siculus, Bibl. hist. 1.9, 6; 1.28, 1; 5.31, 3) either of the watching of stars or the detection of symptoms of disease. The related verb 'paraterein', 'watch, observe,' is found in the New Testament. See Luke 6:7; 14:1; 20:20; Acts 9:24. In Galatians 4:10 it denotes the 'observance' of Jewish feasts. In this Lucan context it refers neither to the (Pharisaic) 'observance' of the Law nor to observance of cultic rites; it is to be understood instead in the Hellenistic sense, of watching for premonitory signs (e.g. from heaven) or of an apocalyptic allusion to 'times and seasons' (e.g. Wisdom of Solomon 8:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; compare Mark 13:32; Matt 24:36), i.e. a sort of eschatological timetable. Recall that Luke depicts the risen Jesus rejecting concern for such in Acts 1:7 ..."
Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel According to Luke: Introduction, Translation, and Notes (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981), 1160.

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 8:8 and Luke 12:56

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