Proverbs 3:19

Hebrew Bible

17 Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful. 18 She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding. 20 By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, so that the clouds drip down dew. 21 My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.

Wisdom of Solomon 9:9

Deuterocanon

7 You have chosen me to be king of your people and to be judge over your sons and daughters. 8 You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city of your habitation, a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning. 9 With you is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments. 10 Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labor at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. 11 For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory.

 Notes and References

"... This “prayer of Solomon” exhibits careful literary structuring with both inclusions (wisdom / humankind, 9:2) and chiastic patterns. In verses 1–2 the assimilation of God’s word and wisdom is very similar to that in Sirach 24:3. It enables the author to identify the Word with which God creates in Genesis 1 (see also Psalm 33:6) with Wisdom in its cosmic role as we see it, for example, in Psalm 104:24 and Proverbs 3:19; 8:22–31. 9:2 seems to be based on Genesis 1:26–28 and Psalm 8:5–6, but again the closest parallel is with Ben Sirach (17:1–4). The epithet paredros (that sits by your throne), used of Wisdom in 9:4, is a striking example of personification since it is used in nonbiblical Greek for subordinate deities. This passage has been used by some scholars to argue that belief in a female consort of Yahweh (well attested in the preexilic period - see Olyan 1988) has influenced the development of the concept of Wisdom. For others this word reflects language used of Isis in Egyptian religion ... The idea that the Jerusalem temple is the copy of a heavenly archetype is deeply rooted in Old Testament and Jewish tradition (see Exodus 25:9, 40; 26:30; Psalm 11:4) ... this attitude to temples can be traced far back in ancient Near Eastern thought. There seems to be a delicate balance in 9:9 between the cosmic approach to wisdom and more traditional law-oriented Judaism ..."

Hayman, A. Peter Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible: Wisdom of Solomon (p. 54) William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2019

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