Wisdom x.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 2. Sin. Hence it is clear, that our first parent repented, (Worthington) and was saved, Genesis v. 5. (St. Irenĉus iii. 34.; St. Augustine, ep. xcix. ad Evod.; Cornelius a Lapide) (Calmet) — Things. Before sin, he submitted willingly; but afterwards, he was forced to use all his ingenuity to preserve this dominion.
Ver. 3. The unjust. Cain. We have no proof of his repentance.
Ver. 4. Cause. The wickedness of the race of Cain. (Calmet) — Just. Noe[Noah]. — Wood. Who would have thought that such a vessel would save mankind, &c., amid the raging storms? Noe must have been an able mechanic: (Calmet) but God both directed him, and closed up the door, Genesis vii. 16. (Haydock)
Ver. 5. She knew the just. She found out and approved Abraham, (Calmet) Sem, or Heber, who took no part in building the tower. (St. Augustine, City of God) (Chap. xvi. 4.) — To God. Many say that Abraham was at first addicted to idolatry. (Philo.) (St. Augustine, &c.) — But not after he was directed by the light of heaven. (Calmet) — Strong. Gave him strength to stand firm against the efforts of his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice his son. (Challoner) — Against. Literally, “in.” To obey God was true compassion to his son, though it might have deprived him of this life. (Haydock) — How many virtues did not Abraham manifest on this occasion! (St. Ambrose, Off. ii. 5.)
Ver. 6. The just man. Lot. — Pentapolis. The land of the five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, &c. (Challoner)
Ver. 10. The just. Jacob. — Of God. Or heaven open, and angels ascending and descending, Genesis xxxviii. 12.
Ver. 11. Deceit. Laban’s craft did not prevent Jacob from growing rich. (Haydock)
Ver. 12. Enemies. Laban and Esau. (Calmet) — Conflict with the angel. (Challoner)
Ver. 13. Just. Joseph. (Challoner) — Sinners. His brethren, &c. Septuagint, “from sin” of adultery. (Menochius) — Pit. Or prison, to which he was confined at the instigation of Potiphar’s wife, always preserving his virtue. (Calmet) — He had also been let down into an old pit by his brethren. (Haydock)
Ver. 14. Kingdom. Which he ruled under Pharao, Genesis xli. 40. (Calmet) — The Hebrews styled all in high authority kings. (Grotius)
Ver. 16. God. Moses. (Challoner) — Numbers xii. 7., and Psalm civ. 26., &c.
Ver. 21. Eloquent. They would, if possible, have sounded forth thy praise. (Dionysius) — The Hebrews had been kept in ignorance, and afraid to speak. (Calmet) — Infants, and dumb people, might also, by miracle, join in the song. (Haydock)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
What wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the people of Israel.
1 She preserved him, *that was first formed by God, the father of the world, when he was created alone,
2 *And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern all things.
3 *But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.
4 *For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood.
5 *Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, and kept him strong against the compassion for his son.
6 *She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis:
7 Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul.
8 For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that they were ignorant of good things, but they left also unto men a memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, they could not so much as lie hid.
9 But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her.
10 *She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother’s wrath, through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours.
11 In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, and made him honourable.
12 She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all.
13 *She forsook not the just, when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she went down with him into the pit.
14 *And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.
15 *She delivered the just people, and blameless seed, from the nations that oppressed them.
16 She entered into the soul of the servant of God, and stood against dreadful kings in wonders and signs.
17 And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night:
18 *And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over through a great water.
19 But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell she brought them out. *Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked.
20 *And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one accord thy victorious hand.
21 For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of infants eloquent.
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*
1: Genesis i. 27.
2: Genesis ii. 7.
3: Genesis iv. 8.
4: Genesis vii. 6.
5: Genesis xi. 2.
6: Genesis xix. 17. and 22.
10: Genesis xxviii. 5. and 10.
13: Genesis xxxvii. 28.
14: Genesis xli. 40.; Acts vii. 9.
15: Exodus i. 11.
18: Exodus xiv. 22.; Psalm lxxvii. 13.
19: Exodus xii. 35.
20: Exodus xv. 1.