Laws in the Wisdom of Solomon

The Wisdom of Solomon is “an example of the ‘wisdom’ genre of religious literature, which commends a life of introspection and reflection on human existence, especially from an ethical perspective. It is an apocryphal work (noncanonical for Jews and Protestants) but is included in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) and was accepted into the Roman canon.

“In the book, Wisdom is depicted as a feminine personification of an attribute of God; she is ‘a breath of the power of God, and a clear effluence of the glory of the Almighty.’ (From this concept was developed the Logos theology of the Christian Church Fathers to explain Jesus Christ’s relationship to God.) Written by a Jew in Alexandria sometime during the 1st century BC, the book was in effect a defense of Judaism, for, in describing Jewish doctrines in terms of Hellenistic philosophy, it showed that philosophical truths were applicable to the Jewish concept of God. Its argument was perhaps directed both to Jews who, responding to their non-Jewish environment, had apostatized and adopted pagan gods and to rigorist Jews who in the same environment advocated complete religious and social isolation.

“The first of the book’s three sections is written in poetic form and is concerned with fostering enthusiasm for religious belief and practice, with emphasis on the superiority of belief over impiety. The second, mixing poetry and prose, praises Wisdom. The third, likewise a mixture of poetic and prose styles, attempts to prove that Wisdom has guided all of Israelite history. This section also condemns idol worship.

“The original text was most probably written in Greek; fragments were discovered in the Essene library, at Qumrān, in Palestine.” – Encyclopaedia Britannica


Love righteousness, think of the Lord with a good heart, and in simplicity of heart seek Him. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:1


The Lord will be found by those who tempt Him not; and shows Himself to those who trust him. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:2


Froward thoughts separate from God: and His power, when it is tried, reproves the unwise. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:3 {Froward: Stubbornly contrary and disobedient; obstinate.}


Wisdom shall not enter into a malicious soul; nor dwell in the body that is subject to sin. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:4


The holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide unrighteousness. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:5


He who speaks unrighteously cannot hide: neither shall he escape punishment. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:8


Beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain from backbiting: for no word is so secret that it shall go for nought: and the mouth that lies slays the soul. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:11


God created all things, that they might have their being: The generations of the world were healthful; there is no poison of destruction in them, nor was the kingdom of death upon the earth: for righteousness is immortal. – Wisdom of Solomon 1:14-15


God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of His own eternity. – Wisdom of Solomon 2:23


As gold in the furnace, God has tried us, and receives us as a burnt offering. – Wisdom of Solomon 3:6


Insight on dying young: He pleased God, and was beloved of him, so that he was translated; speedily he was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the glamor of immorality obscures things that are honest; and the wandering of selfish desires undermines the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hastened He to take him away. – Wisdom of Solomon 4:10-14


As soon as we are born, we begin to draw to our end. – Wisdom of Solomon 5:13


Laws for the rulers of nations: Give ear, you who rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations, for power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels. Because, being ministers of His kingdom, you have not judged aright, kept the law, or walked after the counsel of God, He shall come upon you horribly and speedily: for a sharp judgment shall be to those in high places. Mercy will soon pardon the meanest, but mighty men shall be mightily tormented. He who is Lord over all shall fear no man's person, nor stand in awe of any man's greatness: for He has made the small and great, and cares for all alike. – Wisdom of Solomon 6:2-7


To think upon Wisdom is perfection of wisdom: and whoever watches for her shall quickly be without care. She goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, shows herself favorably to them, and meets them in every thought. For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love; and love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption; and incorruption makes us near to God: Therefore the desire of wisdom brings us to a kingdom. – Wisdom of Solomon 6:15-20


All men have one entrance into life, and the like going out. – Wisdom of Solomon 7:6


Wisdom, which is the worker of all things, is an understanding spirit holy, One only, manifold, subtle, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good, kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtle, spirits. – Wisdom of Solomon 7:22-23


Wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passes and goes through all things by reason of her pureness, for she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore no defiled thing can fall into her. She is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of His goodness. Being but One, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she makes all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she makes them friends of God, and prophets. – Wisdom of Solomon 7:24-27


Wisdom is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. – Wisdom of Solomon 7:29


Wisdom is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of His works. – Wisdom of Solomon 8:4


God's incorruptible Spirit is in all things. – Wisdom of Solomon 12:1


The worshiping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil. – Wisdom of Solomon 14:27


Man made false gods, and borrowed his own spirit to fashion them: but no man can make a god like unto himself, for being mortal, he works a dead thing with wicked hands: for he himself is better than the things which he worships: for he lived once, but they never. – Wisdom of Solomon 15:16-17


It is neither herb, nor mollifying plaster that restores people to health: but the Lord's Word, which heals all things. – Wisdom of Solomon 16:12


Fear is nothing but a betraying of the help which reason offers; the fearful expectation within, being less, counts the ignorance more than the cause which brings the torment. – Wisdom of Solomon 17:12


The righteous children of good men did sacrifice secretly, and with one consent made a holy law, that the saints should be like partakers of the same good and evil. – Wisdom of Solomon 18:9

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References

"Froward" s.v. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Wisdom of Solomon," Encyclopædia Britannica. December 12, 2008 [accessed March 5, 2020].

Read the full bilingual text of the Wisdom of King Solomon (Exodus) at Sefaria.org.